The Historical S-38 was an amphibious aircraft designed by Igor Sikorsky in the late 1920s. It was the first commercial success for Sikorsky’s company in America, and it served for various purposes such as air mail, passenger transport, exploration, and military operations. Here is a brief summary of the Historical S-38 in about 1000 words:
The Historical S-38 was a twin-engine, ten-seat sesquiplane, meaning that it had a smaller lower wing and a larger upper wing. It had two pontoons attached to the lower wing, which allowed it to take off and land on water as well as land. It also had a retractable landing gear for land operations. The S-38 was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engines, each producing 420 horsepower. The S-38 had a wingspan of 72 feet, a length of 40 feet, and a height of 15 feet. It had a maximum speed of 130 miles per hour, a cruising speed of 110 miles per hour, and a range of 800 miles. It could carry a crew of two and eight or nine passengers with baggage. It sold for $55,000 in 1928, which was a relatively low price for an amphibious aircraft at the time.
The S-38 was developed based on Sikorsky’s previous experience with the S-34 and S-36, which were experimental amphibious
Historical Diagrams 38 image
