Igor Sikorsky designed and flew the VS-300, the first practical helicopter to use a single main rotor for lift and a vertical tail rotor to counteract torque. This configuration became the standard for nearly all future helicopters. While airplanes require long runways, the helicopter's ability to take off and land vertically (VTOL) and hover in mid-air opened up entirely new possibilities. It revolutionized search and rescue missions, medical evacuations (Medevac), and military transport. Sikorsky's invention allowed humans to reach inaccessible locations like mountaintops, dense jungles, and the decks of ships at sea, making it one of the most versatile and life-saving machines ever created.