The first commercial helicopter, the four-seat Sikorsky S51, single rotor helicopter first flew. It was the first Sikorsky helicopter to be licensed by the U.S. Civil Aviation Administration for commercial operations. The world's first commercial sale was confirmed, with deliveries in Aug 1946, to Helicopter Air Transport of Philadelphia. It marked the end of the first phase of the helicopter's evolution. The design established would be followed by others to this day. It could carry 3 passengers over 250 miles at a speed of 100 miles per hour. The S51 had a 15 m span 15 m, and a length of 12.5 m.

Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke out about the problem regarding farm tenancy. He has made it known that more and more farmers are unable to attain the home that they live in-they rent instead of own. At this time in history there were over three million tenant families, totaling about 15 million people overall. Also, about 40,000 people each year were losing their farms and becoming tenants. FDR wanted to see to it at this time that action be taken to help farmers keep their homes.