Sikorsky S-36

Sikorsky Aircraft · United States · first flew 1927 · transport aircraft

The Sikorsky S-36 was an American amphibious biplane flying boat of the late 1920s, representing an early step in Sikorsky's development of practical commercial amphibians.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	11.18 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Late 1920s American amphibious flying boat with parasol wing
Twin engines mounted above wing in tractor configuration
Open cockpit forward of the main wing structure

A parasol-wing biplane amphibian with twin tractor engines mounted above the wing; the boat hull and twin sponsons are characteristic of early Sikorsky commercial designs.

Specifications

The Sikorsky S-36 has a length of 11.18 m (37 ft).
It has a wingspan of 20.42 m (67 ft).
Its maximum speed is 177 km/h (110 mph).
Typical crew: 2 + up to 8 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed by Igor Sikorsky after his company relocated from Russia to the United States, the S-36 was designed to demonstrate the viability of amphibious air transport. Pan American Airways evaluated early Sikorsky amphibians of this generation for Caribbean routes.

Variants

A small number of examples were built; the design fed into the more successful S-38 amphibian.

Where you'll see it

Operated by a handful of early commercial and private customers in the late 1920s.

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