Sikorsky S-35

The Sikorsky S-35 was an American three -engined biplane, which was manufactured by the Sikorsky Manufacturing Company. The S-35 was developed by Igor Sikorsky to win the Orteig prize of U.S. $ 25,000 for the attempt at the non-stop crossing of the Atlantic.

History

The S-35 was a sesquiplane with fixed tailwheel and had planned in the first version two Gnome -Rhône Jupiter radial engines. The first flight of the twin, is not precisely known. The S-35 was the development of the twin-engine S -29A, which was built in the spring of 1924.

The pilot René Fonck persuaded the emigrated from Russia to the U.S. aircraft engineer Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky, various technical improvements to its intended for the Atlantic flight twin-engine Sikorsky S-35 implementation. The machine was then rebuilt and fitted with three motors. After the conversion work, the S-35 now had three 425 hp ( 317 kW) Gnome -Rhône Jupiter 9A radial engines. The first flight, which was conducted by Fonck and Igor Sikorsky, took place on August 23, 1926 at Roosevelt Field in Mineola, New York, instead.

Sikorsky began with a series of further test flights, but none of the test flights was satisfactory at the maximum weight due to the required amount of fuel for the non-stop flight. Then Sikorsky wanted to move the Atlantic crossing until the beginning of 1927. However, the Frenchman Fonck was on an earlier date, because he wanted to leave before Charles Lindbergh. In haste, the S -35 was prepared and provided with a reinforced chassis.

Accident

René Fonck started with his co-pilot Lieutenant Lawrence Curtin, the radio operator Charles Clavier and the Sikorsky mechanic Jacob Islamoff on September 21, 1926 in front of a large crowd at the Roosevelt Field. The S-35 had just on the 1500 meter long runway won the necessary speed to lift, as the extra- broke because of overload of fuel reinforced chassis. Fonck was not able to bring under control and the machine crashed at the end of the runway down a hillside and burst into flames the aircraft. The two pilots were unhurt, but the radio operator and the mechanic were killed. The then press reported that the machine is worth about $ 100,000 was uninsured.

Charles Lindbergh was launched on May 20, 1927 at 7:54 clock from Roosevelt Field and won the Orteig price.

Specifications

• Crew: 4
• Length: 13.41 m
• Upper wingspan: 30.78 m
• Lower wingspan: 23:16 m
• Height: 4.88 m
• Wing area: 73.8 m2 (upper wing ), lower face unknown
• Mass: 4400 kg
• Take off weight: 9100 kg (the actual take-off mass of the accident is not known )
• Powerplant: 3 × Gnome -Rhône Jupiter 9A radial engine, each with 425 hp ( 317 kW)
• Propeller: 3 x two-blade, diameter 3.20 m
• Service ceiling: 5100 m