Russian Immigrant Saves Lives
The War between World powers “The Allies and The Axis” produced many interesting spy stories (James Bond Themes) real life espionage, World domination ploys, mysterious deaths, AND technological advancements that SAVES LIVES. Amidst a global military conflict that fought the horrors of the Nazis & the threat of nuclear devastation one immigrant from Russia changed the course of history forever.
Igor Sikorsky born May 25 1889 and died in Oct 26 1972; designed the world’s first successful multimotor airplane and the world’s first true production helicopter. Sikorsky pioneered the development of the helicopter and filed his US patent 1,994,488 in June 27, 1931. After many years of curiosity and engineering Mr. Sikorsky continually improved upon his invention. His single-rotor design , a major breakthrough in helicopter technology, remains the dominant configuration to this day.
On a blistering cold day in 1945 a barge had run aground off the coast of Long Island New York. The crew was trapped and facing imminent and certain death as the raging sea closed in threatening to swallow the barge and take the lives of the crew with her. Desperate for answers a rescue crew watched helplessly on the rocky shore. The crew did not dare approach the vessel from the shore knowing that any vessel would face the same fate that the barge and her crew would face..being smashed to pieces.
A quick thinking Coast Guardsman rescuer devised a plan that had never been tried before; calling on the nearby Sikorsky Aircraft that was based in Long Island, to try an aerial rescue of the crew. Sikorsky had been working on a solution for just that purpose. An aerial hoist attached to his newly developed helicopter, although the hoist had never been tried or proven.
This call to action required quick thinking and ACTION! Mr. Sikorsky attached instructions on the harness for the crew to read before donning the harness attached to the hoist to save them from the sea. It was a daring attempt as the crew dispatched to the scene above the barge. The crew of the helicopter hovered above, dressed in suits and ties as they were busy at their office behind the desk of design, but now it was time turn concept to reality. The men in the helicopter (one being Mr. Sikorsky’s brother) lowered the hook to the first crew member. The crew member loaded into the harness and was successfully transported to shore.
The helicopter crew went back to the scene of the sinking barge and lowered the hook for the second crew member of the barge. I can imagine how quickly he must have read the instructions. He loaded in the harness and prepared to escape death. The crew began hoisting the man up off the barge. The helicopter performed beautifully however something happened to the hoist. The hoist jammed and locked up. The man in the harness dangled above the barge in suspension as if to tempt death. The helicopter crew had to think fast. Not only had they never made an aerial rescue they certainly never transported a human from a steel cable and safely landed him on shore. But there was no other choice and that is what this heroic crew did with success and without death.
Certainly many violations of current OSHA laws were broken that day however I am sure the barge crew would have a strong opinion about that.
Today Consolidated Rigging helps the US Coast Guard in their modern day rescues. We supply the hoists and cables that make rescues possible and seem effortless. We also inspect and repair hoists to insure proper operation in desperate situations. When you call upon your hoist to work properly and perform to its proper working load limit in your time of need you must have it inspected prior to an emergency.
Call us at Consolidated Rigging and ask for our service department, RRR Warehouse & Service Inc. will inspect and repair your hoist. RRR Warehouse & Service, Inc. can also proof load test your hoist so you can be confident that your hoist will perform when called upon.
You can reach Richard Moody or Johnny Barefoot at 904-765-7177 to schedule your appointment.
Tags: Barge, Coast Guardsman, Cold Day, Daring Attempt, Espionage, Helicopter Technology, James Bond Themes, Military Conflict, Mysterious Deaths, Nuclear Devastation, Production Helicopter, Raging Sea, Rescue Crew, Rocky Shore, Rotor Design, Russian Immigrant, Sikorsky Aircraft, Technological Advancements, Us Patent, World Domination
