Air-Britain Archive 2002-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (1)

The S-34 five-seat sesquiplane was the first Sikorsky with a flying boat hull and it led to the S-36 amphibian (Sikorsky spelt it 'amphibion'). It had a boom-mounted twin-rudder tail unit and two uncowled 200 hp Wright J-4 9-cyl radial engines high on the leading edge with overwing nacelles, one being run up here. On trials, an engine failure resulted in a crash landing and it sank, pilot Collier, mechanic Olsen and Sikorsky unhurt.