Sikorsky S-37
Sikorsky Manufacturing Corporation · United States · first flew 1927 · airliner
The Sikorsky S-37 was an American twin-engined long-range aircraft, designed to compete for the Orteig Prize. It was the last land-based fixed-wing aircraft Sikorsky produced.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.87 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-bay sesquiplane with parallel interplane struts and bracing wires
- Triple tail with a rudder in the slipstream of each engine and a central adjustable fin
- Hinged nose opening for baggage or an extra fuel tank
A large twin-engined sesquiplane with a duralumin and fabric structure and a distinctive three-fin tail.
Specifications
- The Sikorsky S-37 has a length of 13.87 m (46 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 30.48 m (100 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 217 km/h (135 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Based on the S-35, the first S-37 was built for Rene Fonck to attempt a non-stop Atlantic crossing and was completed in spring 1927. When Charles Lindbergh won the prize the attempt was abandoned and the aircraft was converted into a passenger airliner.
Variants
Two were built, both completed in 1927. The first had 500 hp Gnome-Rhone Jupiter engines, later exchanged for 525 hp Pratt & Whitney Hornets. Late in 1927 the second was developed with Consolidated Aircraft as the S-37-2.
Where you'll see it
Renamed Southern Star, the first aircraft was sold to American International Airways of Argentina. On 30 June 1929 it became the first commercial transport to cross the Andes between Buenos Aires and Santiago, carrying 5,100 pounds including eight people. It was later with Pan American and was scrapped in 1930.
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