https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_S-38
The S-38 was developed from the Sikorsky S-34 and S-36. The S-38 first flew on
May 25, 1928. The United States Navy ordered two aircraft (designated XPS-2) and
Pan American Airways was an early customer.
A total of 101 aircraft were built, manufactured originally by the Sikorsky
Manufacturing Corporation of Long Island, New York, and by the Sikorsky Aviation
Corporation in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sikorsky was acquired by United Aircraft
and Transport Corporation (now United Technologies Corporation) in
mid-production.
Role
Flying boat
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
Sikorsky Aircraft
Designer
Igor Sikorsky
First flight
25 May 1928
Introduction
October 1928
Primary users
Pan American Airways
New York, Rio, and Buenos Aires Line
Number built
101
Unit cost
$37,000 in 1930
Developed from
Sikorsky S-34
Sikorsky S-36
Some famous owners include:
Aviator and businessman Howard Hughes
Pan Am with Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
between North America and Europe.
companion giraffe-patterned S-39 Spirit of Africa, explored Africa extensively,
making safari movies and books. Their S-38 was cited in the plot line of The
Phantom comic strip adventure (May 2 - August 30, 2008) as the reason Kit Walker
bought an original for $3.25M (USD). The sale was by invitation only and the new
owner had to depart at night because all 101 built were documented as lost, not
accounting for the two survivors listed below.
of the carnauba palm, and to research carnauba wax, the source of the world's
hardest natural wax. The Spirit of Carnauba, a replica of this aircraft, is on
display in Fortaleza Hall on the S. C. Johnson campus.
Specifications (S-38-A)
General characteristics
Crew: two
Capacity: ten passengers
Length: 40 ft 3 in (12.27 m)
Wingspan: 71 ft 8 in (21.85 m)
Height: 13 ft 10 in (4.22 m)
Empty weight: 6,000 lb (2,727 kg)
Loaded weight: 10,480 lb (4,764 kg)
engines, 400 hp (298 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 104 knots (120 mph, 192 km/h)
Range: 648 nm (750 miles, 1,200 km)
Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,878 m)
Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (229 m/min)
Power/mass: 0.08 hp/lb (0.13 kW/kg)
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