Sikorsky S-43
Sikorsky · United States · first flew 1935 · airliner
The Sikorsky S-43, sometimes called the Baby Clipper, was a 1930s American twin-engine amphibious flying boat monoplane. It was a smaller version of the Sikorsky S-42 Clipper.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Parasol monoplane wing above an amphibious hull
- Two Pratt & Whitney Hornet radial engines on the wing
- Separate forward cockpit for the two crew
A twin-engined amphibian with a high wing, a boat hull and a conventional single-fin tail.
Specifications
- The Sikorsky S-43 has a length of 15.6 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 26.21 m (86 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 286 km/h (178 mph).
- Typical crew: 2-4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The S-43 first flew in 1935 and accommodated 18 to 25 passengers, with a separate forward cockpit for the crew. On 14 April 1936 one set an altitude record for amphibians of 27,950 ft (8,520 m).
Variants
About 53 were built, including examples of the twin-tailed S-43B. The Army Air Corps designation was OA-8 and the Navy designation JRS-1.
Where you'll see it
Pan American used it mainly for flights to Cuba and within Latin America, and Inter-Island Airways was the launch customer. The Army bought five in 1937, the Navy bought 17 between 1937 and 1939, and Panair do Brasil and Aeromaritime also flew it.
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- Bréguet 670T
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