THIS DAY IN AIRPOWER HISTORY: On September 14, 1939, Igor Sikorsky made the first tethered flight of the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 prototype helicopter in Connecticut.

September 14, 1939: Igor Sikorsky made the first tethered flight of the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 prototype helicopter in Connecticut. The duration of the flight was just 10 seconds but demonstrated that the helicopter could be controlled. The Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 was the first successful single main rotor, single tail rotor helicopter. The Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 was the first successful single main rotor, single tail rotor helicopter.