Air-Britain Archive 2003-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (5)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC50V   [3]

Sikorsky S-39B NC50V (c/n 912) in giraffe colour scheme at Oshkosh, July 2003, in tribute to NC52V "Spirit of Africa" which was originally painted thus.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (5)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC50V   [3]

Another view of the rebuilt c/n 912 N50V, flying as "NC-50V" in a cloudless Oshkosh sky in July 2003.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-03 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (4)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: X963M   [3]

The first S-39 X963M with Igor Sikorsky standing right. Like a smaller S-38, it had two lower-power engines, the 100 hp 4-cyl in-line Cirrus Hermes I, the failure of a fuel pump on one resulting in its crashing on its third flight. It had twin booms and twin fins and rudders.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-03 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (4)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: X963M   [3]

The second prototype was given a different c/n but used the same registration as the first, X963M. It had a metal hull and was powered by a single 300 hp P&W Wasp Junior 9-cyl radial engine. The prototype retained the long undercarriage legs of the S-38.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-03 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (4)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: X963M   [3]

Single-engined prototype X963M, now modified with a single fin and large balanced rudder. Although a monoplane, struts in place of a lower wing allowed a similar braced structure to the sesquiplane format of the S-38.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-03 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (4)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC809W

NC809W c/n 911 was unusual in having a fully-cowled engine. Here it has a rectangular platform mounted on the nose to provide a floor for mechanics working on the engine.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (5)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC58V

The last-built S-39, Shell's NC58V c/n 920, is seen delivering Jim and Amy Mollison to New York on 24.7.33, the day after their Atlantic crossing in DH Dragon G-ACCV "Seafarer" ended in a crash. The four black strips behind the engine nacelle are the fuel tank stiffener ribs.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-03 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (4)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC887W

NC887W c/n 901 also appeared originally without the deeper rudder and was sold to Hamilton Standard. Carrying pilot and 4 passengers, the S-39 was aimed at the executive and luxury end of the market and only 21 production aircraft were built.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-03 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (4)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC807W

NC807W c/n 909 about to be flown by Sikorsky pilot George Meissner from the factory 16.12.30. Note the 'DANGER' stripes on the nose below the propeller arc. Like NC42V pictured earlier, this example has the inscription 'Hamilton Standard Propeller Corp. Service' on the tail boom.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (5)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC55V

S-39 являлся уменьшенным вариантом S-38 и был рассчитан на пять пассажиров. Он оснащался одним двигателем Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior.
NC55V c/n 917, like NC802Y c/n 903, was operated by Varney Air Ferries of San Francisco. Balloon tyres and a steerable tailwheel were standard for production aircraft.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-03 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (4)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC804W

NC804W c/n 905 was photographed by William T Larkins in 1938 when it was owned by Paul Mantz. Mantz was well known for his film activities and on one of these was killed in the crash of the Timm-designed Phoenix on 8.7.65.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-03 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (4)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC806W   [2], G-ABFN   [2]

NC806W c/n 908, seen at Croydon after arrival 10.30, came onto the British register as G-ABFN. It returned to America and as NC806W the deeper rudder and a Townend ring were then fitted.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (5)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC14326, NR1933

Initially NR1933. c/n 918 was re-registered NC14326 as an S-39C with 400 hp Wasp Junior S1A. A newspaper aeroplane like NC53V, in 8.36 it crashed at Coxsackie, NY in a storm, killing the pilot and the mechanic.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (5)

C/n 919 was the only S-39 in service operation pre-war. It is seen as Y1C-28 32-411, looking smart with a Townend ring on its Wasp. It was at West Point from 11.32 but was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident 10.34.

Flight 1930-11 / Flight

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC806W   [2], G-ABFN   [2]

Another Sikorsky: The S.39, a smaller version of the Sikorsky Amphibians, fitted with a 300 h.p. Pratt and Whitney "Wasp Junior" and carrying pilot and four passengers. This machine has been supplied to Personal Flying Services, Ltd.

Aeroplane Monthly 1989-05 / Personal album. Civil

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC833W

Sikorsky S-39C NC833W photographed on a visit to Springfield. This five-seat amphibian was powered by a single 300 h.p. Wasp Junior. It was certificated in 1930 and was built at Bridgeport, Connecticut by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, a Division of the United Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The 52ft span S-39 cruised at 100 m.p.h. and weighed 4,000lb fully loaded. The S-39 was derived from the twin-engined S-38, a much larger amphibian that carried up to nine passengers.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (5)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC53V

NC53V c/n 915 owned by an American newspaper was originally an S-39B but was converted to S-39C by fitting a 400 hp Wasp Junior S1A. In 2.33 it was sunk at anchor when a boat collided with it.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (5)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC54V

NC54V c/n 916, once "Wolverine" with a Townend ring, it flew in Australia and like a number of others served with the US Civil Air Patrol in WW2. Like most of them it did not survive to fly again postwar.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-03 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (4)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC42V

NC42V c/n 900X was the first production S-39A. The deeper rudder which later became standard was not yet fitted when it was photographed by Steve Hudek when taking part as No.19 in the 1930 National Air Tour flown by Sikorsky pilot George Meissner.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (5)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC50V   [3]

NC50V c/n 912 was the first S-39B five-seater with some detail improvements over the A model. Most S-39A were later converted to B. Here NC50V is seen labelled "Canton Aviation Company" who owned it 1934-1941.

Air-Britain Archive 2003-04 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (5)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC52V   [4]

Osa Johnson on the nose of NC52V with its giraffe markings, to which a pair of eyes have been added, surrounded by well-armed natives in Borneo 1935.

Aeroplane Monthly 1999-06 / S.Harding - Flight of the Carnauba

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC52V   [4]

NC52V c/n 914 was "Spirit of Africa", Martin Johnson's S-39CS with a Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior S2A supercharged to produce 375 hp for the mountain-crossing African tour 1933-34. Zebra-striped S-38BS NC29V appears behind.
Martin and Osa Johnson spent two years and covered 60,000 miles in Africa in the 1930s on film work with Sikorsky S-39CS NC52V and S-38 NC29V.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Another planes on the photo: Sikorsky S-38 - СШАUSA - 1928

Flight 1933-11 / Flight

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC52V   [4]

ON SAFARI - WITH A CINE CAMERA: The two Sikorski amphibians - The Spirit of Africa with giraffe markings, and Osa's Ark with zebra markings - in which Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson have been carrying out an aerial expedition in Central Africa filming animal life.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Another planes on the photo: Sikorsky S-38 - СШАUSA - 1928

Air-Britain Archive 2003-02 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (3)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC52V   [4]

NC29V "Osa's Ark" was a 7-seater with space for the carriage of supplies. It was the only S-38BS and had 450 hp Wasp SC1 engines for operation at 6,000 ft. Seen here in zebra stripe scheme at the start of the Africa tour with S-39 NC52V which accompanied it.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Another planes on the photo: Sikorsky S-38 - СШАUSA - 1928

Flight 1931-01 / Flight

SOME PERSONAL FLYING SERVICES PERSONALITIES: Our picture shows Maj. I. N. G. Clarke (Chief Pilot), Capt. A. J. Styran (Pilot), and F. A. MaCoiser (Chief Engineer) of Personal Flying Services, Ltd., standing in front of three types of machines used by this air taxi company. These are a Desoutter, a Sikorsky S. 39 Amphibian, and a Junkers F.13 L monoplane.

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Another planes on the photo: Junkers F 13 - ГерманияGermany - 1919Koolhoven FK-41 - НидерландыNetherlands - 1928

Air-Britain Archive 2003-03 / M.Best - Sikorsky american fixed-wing aircraft (4)

The undercarriage of the prototype S-39 was modified to replace the long telescoping leg with a short one anchored to the hull below the windscreen. This became the standard as shown here in the retracted position on an early production S-39A.