Activity 21 Business Letterhead: Fill & Download for Free

Thanks for the A2A Franklin Molina although I have been out of the business for some years now I think my answer is still probably correct.First of all we need to get some definitions out of the way. A Realtor is nothing more than an individually licensed real estate person, that has either chosen or been badgered into joining the National Association of Realtors, which is a dues collecting organization representing real estate professionals, much like the Chamber of Commerce theoretically represents all business. Over the years the general public has been deceived, through relentless advertising, into believing that all real estate sales folks are realtors, and therefore they are conditioned to look for the trademarked Realtor logo on letterheads and business cards. Being a Realtor, one way or another, has nothing to do with selling real estate. In some major metropolitan markets it is a ‘leg up’ so to speak, and difficult to ignore when all of your competitors are members.All real estate sales people are independent contractors, and as such aren’t really employed by a broker. However, the law mandates that a sales person must work under a broker. Working at a brokerage or for an individual broker may mean that you have an office and are able to use the broker’s affiliation with a major real estate company, like Prudential, Coldwell Banker, or Century 21 for example, and their licensed logos on your own stationery and business cards. Again, a recognition ‘perk’ that opens doors.Brokers care about sales as that is what keeps the doors open. Whether you are a listing specialist that wouldn’t go out to show properties with a gun at your head, or just a cracker jack sales person that never lists anything, the bottom line is production. In other words, “Follow the money” and you will see who is working where. Full time or part time has little bearing on anything. It is all based on production.So if you can convince a broker after you have obtained your license that you are able to bring something to the table, then you will be given the opportunity to participate. It is sometimes easier to start with a small brokerage and work your tail off by using contacts and loyalties you carry over from your other activities and get a track record. The main thing to remember here is that when you work under a broker’s license you are dealing with their license as well as your own. You get into a big mess and the broker is in a big mess, and since they are typically the one with the greatest exposure and the most to loose, you will have to sell yourself to them. They must be motivated to take you and the responsibility for you when they bring you aboard.Actually, a part time real estate agent that works full time as a credit officer is a very seductive sounding prospect.For the record, I never was a Realtor and had a successful business anyway. The monthly meetings entailed a 120 mile round trip and returning in the dark on icy and snow packed mountain roads during winter just wasn’t worth it.

30 Easy Ways to Make Money on the Side This YearWhy wouldn't a person want to have a little extra money in his or her bank account? I think most people would probably be happy to have that extra padded account and the subsequent financial security this would provide. Having a little savings is stress relief. A person can pay down debt or save for something like a new vehicle or home. Thankfully, there are hundreds of ways for you to make some extra money on the side to supplement your full-time gig.Whether it's starting your own business or working a part-time gig, here are 30 ways that you can make some cash on the side.1. Consult/CoachDo you posses a specific skill-set? It could be anything from sharing legal advice, informing businesses on how to become more eco-friendly, or assisting startups on how to get off the ground. Consulting or coaching can be a lucrative side business since it's easy and affordable to start, since you already have the knowledge and experience. And you can build your own schedule so that you can offer your consulting services whenever you have the free time.2. FreelanceAnother flexible side gig that doesn't require long-term commitments is becoming a freelancer. This could be anything from writing content or designing a logo to filming a product ad or becoming a virtual assistant, it just depends on your interests and talents. Best of all? There's no shortage of websites and job boards to land one of the thousands of freelancing gigs available.3. Cash in on Your VehicleIf you own an automobile then capitalize on it by renting it out whenever you're not using it through sites like Turo and Getaround. If you want to keep your keys, then you can become a driver for either Uber or Lyft. Depending on where you live, you may be able to earn $35 per hour. One final option would be to register your car as an airport shuttle service vehicle and take people to and from the airport.4. Sell Items OnlineOne of the easiest ways you can make money on the side is by selling the stuff that you already own. You know that stuff that is choking you by clogging up your garage and closets. Thanks to sites such as eBay, Craigslist, Gazelle, and Wallop, you can sell those items taking up space in your home without having to visit a pawnshop.But what happens when you run out of things to sell? You could offer to sell other people's junk, but it's only fair that you give them a cut. So you may not make that much money going that route. You can, however, partake in drop shipping.With dropshipping you sell new items for a manufacturer or distributor on sites such as eBay. Once the item has been sold, the company ships the product from their warehouse. You get a percentage of the sale, and you don't have to store anything or visit the post office.5. ProgrammerDo you want to build software, apps, or websites? Then take that interest and turn it into a profitable side gig. Of course, you first need to have an understanding of computer programming and coding, and settle on a specific programming niche. Once you do, you'll be on your way to joining a fast growing industry that allows you to work whenever and wherever you want. Here is a guide to programming to help you master your skills and know where to start.6. Affiliate MarketingSome individuals have made a comfortable living through affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing, for those who don't know, is where you plug a product or service on your website. You'll place a link with a unique code on your site and if a visitor clicks that link and makes a purchase, you'll get compensated.7. Direct SellAnother tried and true method of earning cash on the side is through direct selling. Think Tupperware and Avon. However, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of companies that offer direct-selling opportunities that range from cosmetics to vitamins to pet accessories.8. Micro JobsThese aren't high paying gigs at all--sometimes you're paid only a nickel for each task. However, these tasks are incredibly easy and fast to complete--in most cases just a matter of seconds. If you keep at it, there is a chance to make around $6 per hour. Amazon's Mechanical Turk is a great place to find micro jobs.9. Create CraftsAre you a creative individual who has the talent to design and create jewelry, clothing, furniture, or accessories? If so, then you could open up your own shop on Etsy and make a decent amount of money on the side. I know of someone who created bows for her daughter and started selling them online. It's now a full time gig for her.10. E-Book PublishingLet's say you have years of social-media experience and have maintained a blog that has shared needed advice. You can put together your top blog posts and put together an e-book, such as The Ultimate Social-Media Guide for Small-Business Owners, and sell it on your website or Amazon. If you don't have any experience that you want to cash in on but have a knack for writing, say, sci-fi stories, then you can author and publish your novel on Amazon as well.11. Tax PreparationIf you're familiar with tax laws and regulations, then you could offer your services to individuals and business owners who need assistance with preparing their taxes. Even though this is more of a seasonal job, some tax preparers can earn around $30,000 in salary during the tax season, and some tax preparation experts make much, much more.12. User TestingCompanies want to know how user friendly their websites are going to be for visitors. That's why they're willing to pay people to test these websites out to see how they function. You can earn $10 per test through sites like Analysia, StartUpLift, and User Testing.13. Tutor/Teach LessonsBelieve it or not, everyone has something they can teach to someone else. It could be anything from guitar lessons to how to speak English to a workout regimen at the local gym. In some cases, you may be able to do this from the comfort of your home, but you can also do it at a local business, such as a music shop, or remotely through sites like Tutor.com.14. Customer Service RepIf you have a landline, internet connection, and solid communication skills, you can become a customer service rep. Besides being able to work from home, you can do this whenever you have spare time, like during nights and weekends. Customer service reps can make between $8 to $15 per hour, and there are a lot of jobs.15. Graphic DesignA graphic designer can best be defined as "someone who visually communicates the intended message of a project." In most cases, this is achieved through brand identity, which includes everything from designing logos, brochures, business cards, letterheads, catalogs, and packaging. Graphic design is in every part of business, and therefore it is in great demand.16. Rent Things OutIf you don't want to part with any of your items, you can rent them out instead. Zilok is a site through which you can rent out anything from furniture and tools to video-game consoles when they're not being used by you. Besides the items floating around your house, you can also rent out your garage, parking space, or driveway--especially if parking is an issue because of a high-profile event. And don't forget to list your home or spare room on Airbnb.17. Cater/BakeIf you're skilled at, and have a passion for, cooking, then catering or baking is an excellent way to bring in additional income. This is a tough business to get into, but you should be able to easily cater or bake for smaller events like birthday and graduation parties, as well as weddings, baby showers, and local office parties.If you decide to cater or bake on the side, stick with the items you're best at. For example, if you can make top-notch cinnamon rolls, then stick with that instead of trying to bake something that you're not as skilled at.18. Event PlanningAre you organized, detailed, and actually enjoy planning out activities? Then why not give event planning a try? As an event planner, it would be your duty to find a venue, caterer, and entertainment for everything ranging from birthday parties to office parties and networking events. You might want to consider making one type of event planning your specialty--such as wedding planning, which would probably be a full-time job on it's own.19. PhotographyIf you love capturing moments, there's no better side gig than photography. However, instead of attempting to be a jack-of-all-trades, you should focus on a specific area, such as weddings or capturing landscapes or taking pictures of models for a clothing catalog.You can also take pictures and sell them to sites such as Shutterstock.20. Use Your BodyGet your mind out of the gutter. There's nothing illegal going on here because there are several ways that you can cash in on your body. Obvious places to start would be modeling or acting. Art models, for example, can make between $20 to $25 per hour. However, you can also participate in medical studies or sell everything from plasma, sperm, breast milk, and even donating eggs for approximately $5,000.There is even a "rent-a-friend," site. You have to attend Uncle Harry's funeral and you don't want to hear Aunt Mildred tell you for the 90th time that you need to marry some nice young person. Rent a friend--that way your real friends don't have to hear about it (again) and they don't have to even know about it. These are platonic gigs.21. Moving/Hauling ServiceIf you have a truck and trailer and some muscle, then put them to use by launching your own moving or hauling service. While word of mouth could get you a little business, you may want to scope out places like Ikea, where people need help moving large items from the store to their homes. In the moving and hauling business, you can even be paid extra if you will put that bookshelf-in-a-box together for the customer.22. Babysit/Housesit/PetsitYou may think these jobs are for high schoolers, but adults aren't restricted from babysitting, housesitting, and petsitting. In fact, you might be able to garner $100-per-night babysitting! I would start offering these services to friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues, since they would probably rather hire you instead of someone that they've never met.23. RecyclePeople have been earning cash through recycling for decades. While some individuals can make a living by selling items like scrap metal, recycling isn't going to make you rich anytime soon. You can, however, make some pocket money by recycling everyday products like broken electronics, car batteries, bottles and cans, ink cartridges, and paper.24. Yard WorkWhether it's working for people don't have the time or are physically unable to maintain their yards, this could become a recurring side business for you. It involves everything from mowing lawns to weed whacking and watering plants. If you have a green thumb, you can also plant gardens for your customers.If you live in an area where you experience all four seasons, you can also provide snow-removal service during the winter.25. Cleaning ServiceIf you don't mind getting your hands dirty, you can clean homes or offices on a weekly, bi-weekly, or one-time basis, such as when a client is moving. If you do start your own cleaning service, make sure that you're bonded and insured and are familiar with green cleaning methods that are safe for the environment.26. RepairpersonCan you repair a computer, a light switch that won't turn on, or a piece of plumbing that's burst? If you're a handy individual and have the right skills and tools, then you can start your own repair business on the side. I know several people who started out small, with repairs for hire, and eventually have made a really good living out of it.27. Take Surveys/Join Focus GroupsYou can actually get paid for sharing your thoughts and opinions on everything from products to current events. While it isn't a lot of money, most surveys and focus groups only take up an hour or two of your time. And you may even be lucky enough to join a focus group that pays over $200 for your time.28. Résumé HelpWriting a résumé can get tricky. Even if you have the education and experience to secure a job position, the wrong words could place your résumé at the bottom of the pile. That's when you turn to talented individuals who have a knack for writing amazing résumés. If that sounds like you, you can either offer this service to anyone in your network or work part-time for ResumeEdge.29. Part-Time Side JobsThis may sound vague, but there are more than enough businesses looking for part-time help. For example, your local pizzeria could be in need a delivery person on the weekends. It may pay minimum wage, but with the inclusion of tips, you could easily make several hundred dollars a month.Check out the classifieds in your neighborhood and see if there are any businesses looking for part-time help.30. Hustle at Your Current JobThis may not be an actual side job, but there are several ways that you can earn some extra dough at your full-time job. They include: working overtime, referring new employees or customers, and offering to work on the projects no one else wants to do.

Igor, I say.Igor Sikorsky.▲Igor I. Sikorsky was not only an aeronautical engineer; he is a pilot who flew his own designs.This is my magnum opus, guys.Igor deserves no less.▲The VS-300, the world’s first successful helicopter, predecessor of all modern choppers, with it’s fedora-hatted pilot-inventor. Igor Sikorsky developed the first practical helicopter and was his own original flight test pilot. The first prototype of course had only one seat, in the center. While the first airplane flew in 1903, the first practical helicopter didn't fly until Sept. 14, 1939, when Igor Sikorsky coaxed his VS-300 to lift off.If the name happens to be Igor I. Sikorsky, it is immediately associated with helicopters. The two are synonymous.But the direct-lift machine is not the only accomplishment of Sikorsky. He is probably the only man who pioneered in three different phases of aeronautics; multiengine aircraft, trans-oceanic flying boats and helicopters.Born in Kiev, Russia, 74 years ago, he had an extensive engineering education in his homeland and in France, where he studied under some of the most prominent aviation experts of the era.His interest in aviation dates back to his childhood, and while still a school-boy he built and flew model airplanes of his own design. At the age of 19 Sikorsky decided to build a full scale man-carrying helicopter powered by a 25-hp Anzani engine he brought with him from France.His first helicopter was not a success, but neither was it a failure, as from it he learned a great deal about torque, vibration, blade efficiency and other problems.His second attempt fared somewhat better. The machine lifted itself from the ground but could not carry the weight of a man.After further testing and adjusting, Sikorsky dismantled the machine and gave up the project.When asked why he abandoned his experiments with rotary-wing aircraft, Sikorsky answered: “I did not abandon it; I merely postponed it because I realized that the amount of money and the facilities necessary to solve the helicopter problems were more than I had at my disposal. Another stumbling block was the lack of engines of sufficient power and low weight. I still saw a great potential for the helicopter in the future. I was always against large land areas or runways necessary for the operation of airplanes. To me, a flying machine had to rise and descend vertically, have the ability to stay motionless in the air or fly and maneuver as slow as its pilot desires or the mission calls for.“I could see helicopters carrying people and goods directly to the destination, and not 10 to 15 miles away and then transported there by other means. I also foresaw the helicopter’s unparalleled ability as a rescue device under the greatest variety of circumstances. As you know, this has been proven to be true.”(Though actual figures are not available, it is estimated that for every helicopter built in the Free World, at least seven lives have been saved. A number of the rescues could not have been accomplished by any other means.)After shelving the helicopter temporarily, Sikorsky concentrated his efforts on fixed-wing aircraft—first single-engine, and later in 1914 on designing and building the world’s first four-engine bombers, of the Ilya Mourometz type.Leaving Russia at the onset of the revolution, Sikorsky came to the United States and in 1923 started his own company on Long Island, N.Y. There he produced a number of successful aircraft designs including single-and twin-engine amphibians.In 1929, Sikorsky Aviation Corp. became a subsidiary and later a division of the United Aircraft Corp. and moved to Bridgeport, Conn.There the activities expanded considerably to include the development of large multiengine flying boats capable of trans-oceanic flight. The seaplanes bearing the Sikorsky name pioneered trans-oceanic air travel flown by Pan American Airways as well as American Export Airlines. His amphibians and flying boats held a total of 19 world records.And now the dream of his youth was on the threshold of reality.Whenever possible, Sikorsky kept working on the helicopter project and in 1931 applied for a patent on rotary-wing aircraft. This was granted in 1935.In 1939 he approached the management of United Aircraft Corp., recommending that the company give serious consideration to entering the field of direct-lift aircraft.The management agreed, and in September 1939 the prototype Sikorsky helicopter, the VS-300, lifted off the ground, piloted by its designer.If only India had been blessed by a Sikorsky…….Hard by the Housatonic River in Connecticut sprawls the headquarters and factory of Sikorsky Aircraft.This plant was Sikorsky’s fifth since coming to the United States in 1919.Although he’d amassed a considerable fortune building four-engine bombers for the Czar, the brilliant young designer barely escaped the Bolshevik bloodbath that consumed his Russian homeland, and he arrived here virtually penniless. He struggled doing carpentry and other odd jobs and at night teaching math, physics and astronomy in a school for immigrants.To learn English he’d spend hours in the movie houses watching ten-cent talkies over and over again; it worked, but he never lost his accent completely.Former Czarist officers, together with Rachmaninoff, the composer, helped bankroll Sikorsky’s S-29A, a big twin-engine biplane he and a loyal group of fellow émigrés built beside a chicken coop on a Long Island farm.That airplane, which ultimately met its planned demise in the film Hell’s Angels, relaunched Sikorsky’s career. Orders for several custom-designed aircraft followed.And then Sikorsky struck gold with the S-38, a multiengine flying boat he built on spec and which an ambitious airline called Pan American selected for its Caribbean and South American routes.The S-38 was “the rascal that launched Sikorsky into the big leagues.”In a office, big enough to accommodate a regular wooden desk, chairs, table and a couch, with tall windows overlooking the parking lot comprised the far wall, throughout were shelves laden with plastic helicopter models, plaques and photos.Metal models of old flying boats, looking for all the world like flying Erector Sets, hung from the ceiling and crowded countertops.There was a certain mustiness about the room.The brown desk, old-fashioned leather seats, the dull floral curtains and worn carpeting—everything seemed a bit tired and out of date.Centered on the desk blotter was a typed letter addressed to Jerry Lederer, the long-time head of the Flight Safety Foundation. It thanked him for sending along a news account of helicopter rescues conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The letter went on: “I always believed that the helicopter would be an outstanding vehicle for the greatest variety of life-saving missions and now, near the close of my life, I have the satisfaction of knowing that this proved to be true.”The correspondent had dictated the letter on October 25, 1972.The beloved old man died in his sleep that night. He was 83.His office—Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky’s office—has been preserved as it was that momentous day.Sikorsky’s passion was making aircraft and advancing aeronautical science.When he moved into this office, he was serving as the company’s manager of engineering. After retiring, he continued working here as a consultant until the day of his death.His letterhead bore no title at all.The following bio of a fascinating man was written in 1930.A WAY back in 1910, about all that the average American knew about the Russians was that they wore funny fur hats because it was so cold, they had a czar who sent them to Siberia if he didn’t like their looks, and they drank vodka and rode in droschkas, or perhaps they drank droschka and rode in vodkas. It didn’t seem very important, anyhow.It would have been hard to persuade an American citizen that at that time there was a young Russian boy of twenty, with an enviable technical college training, who was beginning to build flying machines. And the Russian youth who had been experimenting with helicopters for two years was Igor Ivan Sikorsky.As far back as 1908, Sikorsky built a helicopter; in 1910, he built one which lifted itself from the ground. And then he built the S-I, powered with a 15-horsepower motor which flew the ship, followed by the S-2 which flew 600 feet with its 25-horsepower, and the S-3, which flew 59 seconds with 40-horsepower to hold it aloft.What happened to them when these first S ships got through flying is difficult to find out. They flew—and then young Sikorsky built another one!Sikorsky is always described as a man of vision, a dreamer. Reading between the lines of this account of his early activities, it is evident that he was resourceful, courageous and determined.Where did he get the money to build airplanes in those years when nobody believed that man would ever fly and that a flying machine was just the in-sane visualization of a demented mind?How did he have the nerve to take off in the thing when he got it built? How did he have the patience to go on after the little S ships crashed and crashed?As a matter of fact, Sikorsky did get a little impatient after the first few crack-ups, and he began to wonder if there wasn’t more to the business of actually flying than he had at first imagined.Perhaps the ships themselves were all right; perhaps they crashed because he didn’t know how to maneuver them well enough. Perhaps—he decided—he’d better find out how the people who made a business of flying actually did their stuff.So he hied him to an airport (yes, they had airports in Russia in 1911), and watched. Then he went back and taught himself to fly.So successful was he, that to this day, no one has ever been able to teach him the newer, modern methods.At that time the control wires were arranged exactly opposite to what they are now. If you wanted to make a right bank, you used the right pedal; left bank, left pedal. Nowadays, it is exactly the reverse. But today, if Mr. Sikorsky wishes to take a plane, it is necessary for the mechanics to reverse the control wires for Mr. Sikorsky learned to fly that way and can fly no other.Anyhow, he maintains the old system was just as good, if not better.In 1911, the S-4 attained a height of 1,500 feet and stayed there a full hour.Business began to look up. It became obvious to everyone that this young Sikorsky had an idea and an idea which could be made to work. It turned out that he had other ideas as well—ideas about multi-motored ships and seaplanes and all sorts of things that no one had ever tried.So impressed were his confreres that the Russo-Baltic railroad car works decided to stand back of him and see what this young designer, plus unlimited capital, could do.At the end of two years, the new multi-motored ship was completed. Four 100-horsepower engines and a roomy cabin were among the notable features. It made so successful flights with Sikorsky at the controls.Many things happened in Europe in the year 1914. Among other things, it marked the construction of the first multi-motored seaplane. It shattered all world records for distance, lifting, endurance and altitude. Rather an impressive achievement for a chap of 26.From then on Sikorsky no longer had the backing of the Russo-Baltic company. He did have, however, the backing of the Imperial Russian government whose resources were fully as great and whose interest in aviation was even greater.They commissioned Sikorsky to build them 73 big, multi-motored bombing planes for immediate war service. Only one of the lot was lost.With the Russian revolution, Sikorsky’s triumph came to an abrupt end. The distinguished and wealthy young designer, feted and lionized by royalty, became a penniless émigré to France. His indomitable courage—the same courage that carried him undiscouraged through years of nerve-wracking experimentation—stayed with him.His only thought was of beginning again. He had barely begun laying out plans for new planes when the Armistice came. The Allies had planned to use as many as he could turn out. But the Armistice wrote “finis” to Sikorsky’s work just as surely as the Russian revolution had done before.Where to go? America, the land of opportunity. America, the rich. America, the place where so many pioneers in the fields of science and inventions seem to have gathered.In 1919, Sikorsky came to America.Picture him. He had no money. He spoke little English. He came, though, with bright hopes that America would want to forge ahead in aviation, so little developed here but so definitely proven necessary by war experiences.Picture America in 1919. The Armistice. Ships, guns, supplies piled up and no market. Thousands turned out of work by the closing of war factories. The American doughboys home looking for jobs. Too much of everything but money and work and not enough of these to go around.Arrives a young Russian who wants to build an airplane which will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $100,000. If the Revolution and the Armistice were tragedies to Sikorsky, how much worse must have been his arrival in America!How he got on during the next few years, he seldom describes. He had a remarkable knowledge of astronomy and an unusual grounding in mathematics and among other things, after his English improved, he picked up a little by lecturing. They were years of hardship and discouragement.About that time, 1923, Mr. Bary enters the picture—W. A. Bary, who is now vice-president and general manager of the Sikorsky Aviation Corporation. Mr. Bary had had a successful manufacturing business in Russia, had come to the United States because of the Revolution and had begun a little business in downtown New York City.Gradually, drawn by common interests, there had come together in his shipping room a little group of Russian naval officers, first six, then eight, and finally, twelve.These young Russians had been together at the naval college, they had fought side by side in the civil war and they knew what it meant to experience hardship. They knew what it was to stick together.Of these, two were flyers and one was a draughtsman. The latter was the only professional man besides Sikorsky, who ran across them and joined their little group.This little, tightly - knit Russian group pooled their resources and found that they had $600. They began work with an old draughting table in the back of Bary’s packing room. Here was laid the foundation for what is today the Sikorsky Aviation Corporation.Naturally, it was impossible to build a plane with a 100-foot wingspread in the back of Bary’s packing room. Sikorsky suggested that they transfer their activities to a little farm which he had purchased down at Roosevelt, L. I.They looked the place over and decided that the place to build the new plane was in the chicken-coop. And there it was built.As the plane neared completion, the coop had to be extended here and there to cover a new portion of the wing which had just been added or to allow for this or that addition. It was necessary to disassemble the coop to get it out and it came forth like a chicken bursting from its shell covering.The result was the S-29, a tremendous success. It carried 14 passengers and once took two grand pianos from New York to Washington. Governor Trumbull of Connecticut spoke over the radio from the cabin of the S-29, the first time anyone had ever broadcasted from a plane. It visited every state in the Union. It flew more than 500,000 miles and was finally crashed intentionally in a movie thriller. Its history is epic.The year 1927 saw the construction of the first multi-motored amphibian, the forerunner of the S-38, which has been turned out in large quantities during the past two years. The company has become one of the leaders in the field of aviation in America.“What,” Mr. Bary was asked, “does Mr. Sikorsky like to do best?”“Oh, fly, of course,” he replied. “But we do not let him. We put every difficulty in his way. He is too valuable; we need him all the time for other things.”Isn’t that the irony of fate?After all these trials and tribulations, the thing that he wants most to do, to fly the gigantic ships which he creates, is denied him.“Vice-president in charge of all engineering activities” is Mr. Sikorsky’s present title in the corporation. He is never so happy as when looking over someone’s shoulder at blue prints and telling them what changes to make. He would like to design new planes as often as it is practicable. For a designer, the test flight is the big thrill. Production on a large scale interests him not at all.Igor Ivan Sikorsky now lives in a modest little white house in Stratford, Conn., only a short distance from the huge new aircraft works which bears his name. He takes an inordinate interest in his wife and small children.He is, among other things, a remarkable pianist. If he had time, he would like to continue his study of astronomy. He is punctiliously polite and very absent-minded.He cannot be induced to part with an old, greasy checkered cap which he wears in the factory and out.Except for flying, he does as he pleases. His factory employs hundreds of people, the vast majority of whom are Russians who, like himself, have known the terrors of revolutionary days in the homeland. They have their own little church, and workers and company executives alike attend worship there.On Dec. 14, the Grand Duchess Kira of Russia, great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and youngest daughter of Grand Duke Cyril of Russia, inspected the factory.“I am naturally quite proud,” she said “to think that some of my countrymen have built such a wonderful organization.”Russians, employed in the mechanical and woodworking departments, some of whom held high social and military positions in Russia, expressed real enthusiasm and affection upon seeing her.Today, at forty, Igor Ivan Sikorsky, looking back over the years he spent fighting hard against adversity, has the satisfaction of seeing his dreams come true.But, being an inventor, he has no real satisfaction. His only answer is to visualize greater and more unbelievable things for the future. ENDThe name Sikorsky usually brings helicopters to mind.But Igor Sikorsky’s earliest efforts were in building airplanes—ones that would take off from, and land on, water. In April, 41 years after it was completed, the last surviving Sikorsky VS-44A flying boat was brought back to Connecticut, to be restored within a mile of where it was built.Three VS-44As were originally built, all delivered in 1942. In their era, the four-engine monsters were the longest-range commercial aircraft, and routinely flew non-stop the 3,000-plus-mile routes across the North and South Atlantic.One of the three airplanes crashed in its first year in service.The two remaining flying boats crisscrossed the Atlantic wearing the colors of American Export Airlines, under contract with the Navy.After the war, the airplanes ended up being operated by Tampico Airlines in South America.The second VS-44A sank into the Rio Del Plata in 1947 during a night landing attempt. Tampico Airlines ceased operations.The remaining flying boat, the Excambian, was kept in service for 10 more years by various operators in South America until it was purchased by Avalon Air Transport for more mundane duties—carrying passengers on the 21-mile hop from Long Beach, California, to Catalina Island.▲The Excambian during its heydayTen years later, the Excambian’s California lifestyle proved too expensive for its operator and it was sold to Charles Blair, whose Antilles Air Boats flew among the Virgin Islands.But again, the 4,800-hp boat, which could be configured to seat 40 passengers or, for overnight flights, to sleep 16, was found unsuitable for commercial service.In 1969, rather than complete a major inspection and overhaul work on the airplane, Blair grounded it on the beach at St. Thomas.During those years, officials of the Bradley Air Museum had kept track of the Excambian, hoping to acquire it for their collection. Blair did, in fact, offer the boat to the museum, on the condition that the museum figure out a way to get the non-flyable boat to Connecticut. It couldn’t, and in 1976 the boat went instead to the Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.Dismantled, it sat outdoors, never incorporated into the US Navy’s collection. In 1982, the US Navy offered the Excambian on “permanent loan” to the Bradley Museum.The Excambian will not fly again.