Sikorsky S-42
Sikorsky Aircraft · United States · first flew 1934 · airliner
The Sikorsky S-42 was a commercial flying boat built to meet a 1931 Pan American long-range requirement.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 20.62 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four radial engines on a high wing
- Full-length hull supports the tail directly with no outriggers
- Minimal external bracing on a clean airframe with wing flaps
A four-engined high-wing flying boat with a clean hull and a tail carried directly on it.
Specifications
- The Sikorsky S-42 has a length of 20.62 m (68 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 34.8 m (114 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 293 km/h (182 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The prototype first flew on 29 March 1934 and set ten world records for payload to height. Charles Lindbergh argued for a low-drag design, and Igor Sikorsky reduced external bracing to a minimum.
Variants
The S-42A and S-42B were developed versions. A plan to build the S-42A under licence in the United Kingdom came to nothing.
Where you'll see it
Pan Am used it chiefly on the Miami to Rio de Janeiro route, and also on Bermuda, Alaska and Pacific services. One made the first regular airline crossing of the North Atlantic in July 1937.
Related aircraft
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