Sikorsky S-39
S-39 | |
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Sikorsky S-39 of the Civil Air Patrol, 1942 | |
Role | Flying boat |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |
First flight | 24 December 1929 |
Number built | 21 |
The Sikorsky S-39 was 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]
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[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Sikorsky_C-28.jpg/220px-Sikorsky_C-28.jpg)
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]
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.[4][5][6]
Variants[]
- S-39-A
- 4-seat version[7]
- S-39-B
- Improved 5-seat version of the S-39-A[7]
- S-39-C
- Converted from S-39-B[8]
- C-28
- One example of the S-39 acquired by the United States Army Air Corps
Surviving aircraft[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Sikorsky_S-39B_SN_904_NC_803W.jpg/220px-Sikorsky_S-39B_SN_904_NC_803W.jpg)
- 904 – S-39-B on static display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.[1]
- Composite – S-39-C airworthy with at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.[9][10] It was recovered from Alaska in 1965 and incorporated parts of five S-39s. It was restored by Dick Jackson and first flew in 2003.[8][11]
- 920 – S-39-C under restoration with Frederick W. Patterson III of American Canyon, California. This is the last S-39 produced and was originally owned by Shell Eastern, the original name of the Shell Oil Company.[12][failed verification]
Specifications (S-39A)[]
Data from Aerofiles : Sikorsky,[13] American flying boats and amphibious aircraft : an illustrated history[14]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Capacity: 4 or 5 pax / 1,145–1,300 lb (519–590 kg) payload
- Length: 31 ft 11 in (9.73 m)
- Wingspan: 52 ft 0 in (15.85 m)
- Wing area: 320 sq ft (30 m2)
- Airfoil: Sikorsky GS-1 [15]
- Empty weight: 2,678 lb (1,215 kg)
- Gross weight: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 300 hp (220 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
- Cruise speed: 97 mph (156 km/h, 84 kn)
- Stall speed: 54 mph (87 km/h, 47 kn)
- Range: 375 mi (604 km, 326 nmi)
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Sikorsky S-39B "Jungle Gym"". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ "Flying Expedition To Africa To Visit Forbidden Area." Popular Mechanics, April 1933.
- ^ "Sikorsky Y1C-28." National Museum of the United States Air Force, June 24, 2009. Retrieved: July 15, 2017.
- ^ "The Diesel Yacht Lotosland". MotorBoating. February 1931. pp. 90–91. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ 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.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- ^ "S38" (PDF). NEAM News. Windsor Locks, Ct.: New England Air Museum. Fall 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "A.T.C. #375" (PDF). Golden Wings Flying Museum. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Jackson, Dick. "40 Years and 40,000 Hours". Spirit of Igor. Richard Jackson. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ "1930 Sikorsky S-39". Fantasy of Flight. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N50V]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ Jackson, Dick. "40 Years and 40,000 Hours - Part 2". Spirit of Igor. Richard Jackson. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N58V]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ Eckland, K.O. "american airplanes: Sikorsky". aerofiles.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ Johnson, E.R. (2009). American flying boats and amphibious aircraft : an illustrated history. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. pp. 188–189. ISBN 978-0786439744.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sikorsky S-39. |
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