Born: Russia
Primarily active in: United States of America

1908 - 1997

Born in 1908, in Kiev, Russia, Dmitry D. (Jimmy) Viner and his family emigrated to the U.S. in 1923. That same year, Viner joined Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation, which had recently been founded by his uncle, Igor I. Sikorsky. He was Sikorsky's 15th (and, at that time, the youngest) employee.

During a career spanning 44 years, Viner set a number of "firsts" including the first flights of the S-51, the S-55 and the S-58. He also piloted the first helicopter civilian rescue, in 1945, of two crewmen from an oil barge off Penfield Reef, in Fairfield, during a storm. Viner established the first helicopter mail service in New York City, and set a helicopter world speed record of 115 MPH in 1946. The Society recognized his outstanding services to AHS in 1953, when he was designated an AHS Honorary Fellow.

Helicopter pioneer Dmitry D. (Jimmy) Viner passed away in June 1997, at a Bridgeport hospital.

AHS Update: Vertiflite Summer 1998