Sikorsky S-39

Last updated
S-39
CAP Sikorsky S-39 NC54V.jpg
Sikorsky S-39 of the Civil Air Patrol, 1942
General information
TypeFlying boat
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft
Number built21
History
First flight24 December 1929;94 years ago (1929-12-24)

The Sikorsky S-39 is an American light amphibious aircraft produced by Sikorsky Aircraft during the early 1930s. The S-39 was a smaller, single-engine version of the S-38. [1]

Contents

Operational history

Spirit of Africa

Filmmakers Martin and Osa Johnson used a giraffe-patterned S-39 Spirit of Africa, with companion zebra-striped S-38 Osa's Ark, to explore Africa extensively, making safari movies and books. [2]

Military usage

The C-28 Sikorsky C-28.jpg
The C-28

One example of the S-39 was acquired by the United States Army Air Corps in 1932, given the designation Y1C-28. It was evaluated for use in coastal patrol and light transport roles; in 1934 it was redesignated C-28 and assigned as a liaison aircraft to the United States Military Academy. [3]

At least one S-39 saw service with the Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol from 1942 to 1943. This was part of a fleet of civilian aircraft flown by volunteers along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, searching for both German submarines and for allied ships in distress. Seaplanes such as the S-39 were sometimes used for search and rescue if another aircraft crashed or went missing. [4] A surviving CAP S-39, previously based at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is currently on display at the New England Air Museum.

Yacht

Edward A. Deeds had the yacht Lotosland designed to incorporate aircraft capability. After loss of the planned aircraft on first loading Deeds ordered an S-39-A replacement the next day. The aircraft was intended to allow Deeds to quickly travel from his yacht to business and events ashore. [5] [6] [7]

Variants

S-39-A
4-seat version [8]
S-39-B
Improved 5-seat version of the S-39-A [8]
S-39-C
Converted from S-39-B [9]
C-28
One example of the S-39 acquired by the United States Army Air Corps

Surviving aircraft

Sikorsky S-39-B Sikorsky S-39B SN 904 NC 803W.jpg
Sikorsky S-39-B

Specifications (S-39A)

Data from Aerofiles : Sikorsky, [14] American flying boats and amphibious aircraft : an illustrated history [15]

General characteristics

Performance

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-42</span>

The Sikorsky S-42 was a commercial flying boat designed and built by Sikorsky Aircraft to meet requirements for a long-range flying boat laid out by Pan American World Airways in 1931. The innovative design included wing flaps, variable-pitch propellers, and a tail-carrying full-length hull. The prototype first flew on 29 March 1934, and, in the period of development and test flying that followed, quickly established ten world records for payload-to-height. The "Flying Clipper" and the "Pan Am Clipper" were other names for the S-42.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-38</span>

The Sikorsky S-38 was an American twin-engined ten-seat sesquiplane amphibious aircraft. It was Sikorsky's first widely produced amphibious flying boat, serving successfully for Pan American Airways and the United States military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-29-A</span>

The Sikorsky S-29-A was a twin-engine sesquiplane airliner, first flown in 1924. It was the first aircraft that aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky designed and built after coming to the United States, hence the special "-A" suffix signifying "America". The aircraft made many successful long-range flights, most of which Sikorsky piloted himself. The S-29-A claims a number of "firsts" in aviation, including the first twin-engine aircraft capable of maintaining altitude on one engine, the first aircraft to broadcast a radio musical program in-flight, in 1925 and in 1926 the first aircraft to display a motion picture in flight. The S-29-A was also one of the first aircraft to make use of an airstair door, located on the starboard side of the fuselage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-40</span>

The Sikorsky S-40 was an American amphibious flying boat built by Sikorsky in the early 1930s for Pan American Airways. During WW2 they were used by the United States Navy for training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keystone–Loening Commuter</span> 1920s American flying boat

The Keystone–Loening K-84 Commuter was a single-engine closed-cabin 4-place biplane amphibious flying boat built by Keystone–Loening. It was powered by a 300 hp Wright Whirlwind engine mounted between the wings with the propeller just ahead of the windscreen. It was first produced in 1929.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Dolphin</span>

The Douglas Dolphin is an American amphibious flying boat. While only 58 were built, they served a wide variety of roles including private air yacht, airliner, military transport, and search and rescue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-43</span> American flying boat

The Sikorsky S-43 is a 1930s American twin-engine amphibious flying boat monoplane produced by Sikorsky Aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vought-Sikorsky VS-300</span>

The Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 is an American single-engine helicopter designed by Igor Sikorsky. It had a single three-blade rotor originally powered by a 75 horsepower (56 kW) engine. The first "free" flight of the VS-300 was on 13 May 1940. The VS-300 was the first successful single lifting rotor helicopter in the United States and the first successful helicopter to use a single vertical-plane tail rotor configuration for antitorque. With floats attached, it became the first practical amphibious helicopter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky VS-44</span>

The Sikorsky VS-44 was a large four-engined flying boat built in the United States in the early 1940s by Sikorsky Aircraft. Based on the XPBS-1 patrol bomber, the VS-44 was designed primarily for the transatlantic passenger market, with a capacity of 40+ passengers. Three units were produced: Excalibur, Excambian, and Exeter, plus two XPBS-1 prototypes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pitcairn Mailwing</span> American 1920s three-seat mail and utility biplane

The Pitcairn Mailwing family was a series of American mail carrier and three-seat sport utility biplane aircraft produced from 1927 to 1931.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fokker F-11</span> Type of aircraft

The Fokker F-11 was a luxury flying boat produced as an 'air yacht' in the United States in the late 1920s. Technically the aircraft was the Fokker Aircraft Corporation of America's Model 9. It was sold in North America as the Fokker F-11 and was offered in Europe as the Fokker B.IV. By the time the first six aircraft had been constructed, it was already evident that the design was not going to sell well. A few were sold, two to notable multi-millionaires; Harold Vanderbilt and Garfield Wood each purchasing one. One was bought by Air Ferries in San Francisco. The F-11A cost $40,000 but the price was slashed to $32,500 as the depression set in during 1930. The F-11 was a commercial failure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan S-C</span> American light aircraft

The Ryan S-C (Sports-Coupe) was an American three-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by the Ryan Aeronautical Company. At least one was impressed into service with the United States Army Air Forces as the L-10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spencer Air Car</span> American flying boat

The Spencer Amphibian Air Car is an American light amphibious aircraft. The name was first used in 1940 for a prototype air vehicle that developed into the Republic Seabee. The name was later used by its designer Percival Spencer for a series of homebuilt amphibious aircraft roughly based on the Seabee design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairchild 100 Pilgrim</span> Type of aircraft

The Fairchild 100 Pilgrim is an American single-engined high-wing monoplane transport, and was one of a series of single-engine utility transports built by Fairchild Aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-41</span> Type of aircraft

The Sikorsky S-41 was an amphibious flying boat airliner produced in the United States in the early 1930s. Essentially a scaled-up monoplane version of the Sikorsky S-38 biplane flying boat, Pan Am operated the type on routes in the Caribbean, South America, and between Boston and Halifax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright-Bellanca WB-1</span> Type of aircraft

The Wright-Bellanca WB-1 was designed by Giuseppe Mario Bellanca for the Wright Aeronautical corporation for use in record-breaking flights.

The Sikorsky S-34 was a 1920s American six-seat sesquiplane, designed and built by the Sikorsky Manufacturing Corporation. Only one was built, but the design led to the successful Sikorsky S-38.

The Hall Air Yacht was a 2-seat, tandem, sesquiplane, flying boat, designed and built in the United States in 1923. The Air Yacht was Charles Ward Hall's first attempt at building an aircraft with his company Charles Ward Hall Inc. of Mamaroneck NY. Hall, and his later company Hall Aluminum Aircraft Corp., which would develop manufacturing processes for riveted aluminum alloy aircraft structures in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-37</span> Type of aircraft

The Sikorsky S-37 was an American twin-engine aircraft built by the Sikorsky Manufacturing Corporation. Both examples of the series were completed in 1927. The S-37 was specifically designed to compete for the Orteig Prize and would be the last land based fixed-wing aircraft Sikorsky would produce.

The Sikorsky S-45 was a proposed double-deck transoceanic flying boat originally designed in 1938 by Sikorsky Aircraft for Pan Am. The high wing monoplane featured a single-step hull with a triple-tail and was to be powered by six Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone engines which were being developed at the time. The aircraft would have competed with the Boeing 314 but no examples of the S-45 were ever manufactured.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sikorsky S-39B "Jungle Gym"". New England Air Museum. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  2. "Flying Expedition To Africa To Visit Forbidden Area." Popular Mechanics, April 1933.
  3. "Sikorsky Y1C-28." National Museum of the United States Air Force, June 24, 2009. Retrieved: July 15, 2017.
  4. Blazich, Frank A. Jr. (2020). An honorable place in American air power": Civil Air Patrol coastal patrol operations, 1942-1943 (PDF). Air University Press. p. 109-112. ISBN   978-1-58566-305-7 . Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  5. "The Diesel Yacht Lotosland". MotorBoating. February 1931. pp. 90–91. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  6. Pacific American Steamship Association; Shipowners Association of the Pacific Coast (August 1929). "Diesel Yacht Lotosland". Pacific Marine Review. San Francisco: J.S. Hines: 29. Retrieved 23 October 2020.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. "S38" (PDF). NEAM News. Windsor Locks, Ct.: New England Air Museum. Fall 1994. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  8. 1 2 "A.T.C. #375" (PDF). Golden Wings Flying Museum. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  9. 1 2 Jackson, Dick. "40 Years and 40,000 Hours". Spirit of Igor. Richard Jackson. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  10. "1930 Sikorsky S-39". Fantasy of Flight. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  11. "FAA REGISTRY [N50V]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  12. Jackson, Dick. "40 Years and 40,000 Hours - Part 2". Spirit of Igor. Richard Jackson. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  13. "FAA REGISTRY [N58V]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  14. Eckland, K.O. "american airplanes: Sikorsky". aerofiles.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  15. Johnson, E.R. (2009). American flying boats and amphibious aircraft: an illustrated history. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. pp. 188–189. ISBN   978-0-7864-3974-4.
  16. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.