Sikorsky VS-42. A

Sikorsky S-42 "Clipper"


Sikorsky S-42 Golden Age Flying Boat

S-42

Brief History

The Sikorsky S-42 first flew on March 30, 1934, and promptly set four weight to altitude records, several of them with Charles Lindbergh at the controls.The first of the ledgendary Pan Am "Clippers" all ten of the S-42s would be produced for Pan Am.

In April 1935, Pan American sent the first S-42, with Captain Ed Musick at the controls, on a survey flight of the Pacific.

In service the S-42s would be operated on Pan Am's Manila-Hong Kong route, as well as between New York and Buenos Aires.

Specifications
Wing span 118' 2".
Length 69'0".
Height 27'7".
Weight empty 24,000lbs.
Gross weight 42,000lbs.

Performance Powered with four Pratt & Whitney 750 h.p.Hornet engines.

The S-42 had a topspeed of 190 m.p.h.

Its normal range was 1,120 miles.

Service ceiling 16,000 ft.

Manufactured by Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation, Stratford, Connecticut.

Gross weight ...................38,000lbs.

Full speed at 5,oooft. altitude .......188 m.p.h.

Full speed at sea level .......180 M.P. 11.

Speed at 75 per cent. b.h.p. at sea level .......160 m.p.h.

Speed at 70 per cent. b.h.p. at 1 2, 000ft ..altitude .......170 m.p.h.

Climb, initial, four engines .......1,000 f.p.m.

Climb, initial, three engines ........400 f.p.m.

Ceiling, service, three engines .......7,500ft.

Full speed at sea level, three engines ........157 m.p.h.

Speed at 75 per cent. b.h.p., sea level, three engines....I35 m.p.h.

Stalling speed .........65 m.p.h.

Time of take-off, dead cal......................................25-30 sec.

Ceiling, service, four engines .........16,000 ft.

Range at cruising speed, sea level .........1,200 miles

Range with pay load of i,5oolbs. (cruising speed

I45 m.p.h. at 6,oooft. altitude) .........3,000 miles

During the test flights the following world records for Class C-2 seaplanes

were established :-

For a distance of 1,000 km. (621.4 mi-)-,

Speed 253.7 km./hr (157-7 mi./hr.).

Speed with 500 kg. (1,102.3lbs.) 253.7 km./hr (157.7 mi./hr.).

Speed with 1,000 kg. (2,204.6lbs.) 253.7 km./hr (157.7 mi./hr.).

Speed with 2,000 kg. (4,409.2lbs.) 253.7 km./hr (157.7 mi./hr.).

For a distance Of 2,000 km. (1,248.8 mi.).

Speed ..253.4 km./hr. (157.5 mi./hr.).

Speed with 500 kg. (1,1O2-3lbs.) 253.4 km./hr. (157.5 mi./hr.).

Speed with 1,000 kg. (2,204.6lbs.) ..253.4 km-/hr. (157.5 mi./hr.).

Speed with 2,000 kg. (4,409.2lbs.) ..253.4 km./hr. (157.5 mi./hr.).

Greatest load to 2,000 M. (6,561.6ft.) 7,533 kg. (16,608lbs.).

Altitude with 5,000 kg. (11,023lbs.) 6,203.6 M
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Written & Edited by Darrell Graves

© 1998 dgraves549@aol.com



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