The Sikorsky S-42 was the first real transoceanic flying boat. Flying for Pan American Airways, a total of ten aircraft were built, manufactured by the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, Connecticut. All ten were either scrapped or destroyed in accidents. The aircraft first flew on March 30, 1934. The S-42 was also known as the Flying Clipper and the Pan Am Clipper.

Specifications (S-42-A)

General Characteristics

• Crew: four
• Capacity: up to 37 passengers
• Length: 68 ft 0 in (20.73 m)
• Wingspan: 118 ft 2 in (36.03 m)
• Height: 17 ft 5 in (5.3 m)
• Wing area: 1,329 ft² (123.5 m²)
• Empty: 19,764 lb (8,984 kg)
• Loaded: 38,000 lb (17,273 kg)
• Maximum takeoff: lb ( kg)
• Powerplant: 4x supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet, 660 hp (492 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 188 mph (300 km/h)
• Range: 1,930 miles (3,088 km)
• Service ceiling: 15,704 ft (4,788 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (305 m/min)
• Wing loading: 28.6 lb/ft² (140 kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: 0.07 hp/lb (0.11 kW/kg)

Related content

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Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: S-39 - S-40 - S-41 - S-42 - S-43 - S-44