Fun Helicopter and Airplane Facts for Gresham, OR

Igor Sikorsky is considered to be the “father” of helicopters not because he invented the first. He is called that because he invented the first successful helicopter

The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) is focused on reducing all helicopter accidents and it envisions an international civil helicopter community that experiences zero accidents. To reach this goal, the IHST is focused on educating all operators and pilots about how civil helicopter accidents occur and how they can be prevented.

FAA - A History of Aircraft Structures Factoid for Gresham, OR

In the 1960s, ever larger aircraft were developed to carry passengers. As engine technology improved, the jumbo jet was engineered and built. Still primarily aluminum with a semimonocoque fuselage, the sheer size of the airliners of the day initiated a search for lighter and stronger materials from which to build them. The use of honeycomb constructed panels in Boeing’s airline series saved weight while not compromising strength. Initially, aluminum core with aluminum or fiberglass skin sandwich panels were used on wing panels, flight control surfaces, cabin floor boards, and other applications.