FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Sacred Heart University’s Discovery Science Center & Planetarium (DSCP) will honor Igor I. Sikorsky, founder of Sikorsky Aircraft, at the opening of its newest exhibit on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m.
Igor I. Sikorsky was a pioneer in airplane and helicopter development. Thanks to the generosity of Sikorsky Aircraft and the Igor I. Sikorsky Historical Archives―the nonprofit organization dedicated to acquiring, managing, and sharing documents and memorabilia of the famed aviator-engineer―the DSCP exhibit will educate visitors on Sikorsky’s life and legacy.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will include guest speakers from Sikorsky Aircraft, the Archives, SHU and DSCP. Sikorsky’s son and Archives co-founder Sergei Sikorsky will explain how the exhibit continues the recognition of his father’s fixed-and rotary-wing legacy. Sergei Sikorsky retired from Sikorsky Aircraft in 1992 as vice president of special projects and remains active as an aviation consultant.
The new display was added to DSCP’s existing “Science in Flight” gallery. It has a large graphic timeline of Sikorsky’s life and accomplishments. Erika Eng, DSCP director, said Archive volunteers played a crucial role in organizing the timeline and making sure events were detailed accurately.
Dan Libertino, president of the Archives, said, “This is what we do. We preserve the legacy of Igor and his company, making it available for generations to learn from.”
The Archive also provided signage and aircraft models for the exhibit. Archive volunteers will be available to answer questions and provide insights into the Sikorsky legacy.
“It’s really an excellent piece to spark intergenerational learning,” Eng said. “Grandparents and their grandchildren can have real conversations around innovation and flight and, of course, Sikorsky’s brilliance. We even have a video of flight footage donated by the Archives running on a loop outside of the flight simulator, which also features actual decommissioned helicopter cockpit pieces, generously donated by Sikorsky,” she added.
The Sikorsky engineering team partnered up with the DSCP’s technical staff to create this simulator. Equipped with a 3D-printed aircraft cockpit, pilot controls and simulated visuals, guests will experience what it takes to fly an airplane or a helicopter. They will become a pilot for a day and discover the science of flight firsthand.
In addition to the historical display, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has donated an aircraft model to the DSCP. A replica of the new U.S. Marine Corps Heavy Lift Helicopter, the 53K King Stallion, the aircraft model will greet all guests as it hovers in the Discovery Center’s atrium. The CH-53K is designed to move Marines and their equipment from ship to shore anywhere in the world that they are needed. The aircraft is an engineering marvel capable of lifting 35,000 pounds and 30 passengers or troops and their equipment. The donations reflect Lockheed Martin’s commitment to science, technology engineering and math education.
Media who would like to attend the ribbon cutting can RSVP to Kim Swartz at swartzk2@sacredheart.edu. Visit the DSCP webpage to learn more about its exhibits.
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About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 388 Colleges–2023 Edition, and Best Business Schools–2022 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu