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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0816.PDF
OCTOBER 20. 1927 THE SIKORSKY S.36.B AMPHIBIAN • An Interesting Flying-Boat of Unusual Design WE have, on previous occasions, referred to the work ofIgor Sikorsky, the Russian aircraft designer—who produced the first successful " giant " multi-engined aeroplane sometwelve years or so ago in Russia—now settled in America, where his firm, the Sikorsky Manufacturing Co., of NowYork, has produced several different types of aircraft. This week we are able to give some particulars of one of his recentproductions, the S.36 B. amphibian flying-boat, which is, perhaps, of more than usual interest. One point of interest attached to this Sikorsky flying-boat thickness. The engines, two J.5C. Wright "Whirlwinds,"'are located slightly below and in front of the upper plane. There are three models of the S.36, one with open cockpitsand one with an enclosed cabin, each seating a pilot and seven passengers. The third model has a front cockpitseating two side-by-side, and immediately behind is a cargo- compartment of 175 cub. ft. All three models are againdivided into two types, a service type and a long-distance type, the latter having a larger wing area, a different instal-lation of tanks, etc. THE SIKORSKY S.36.B FLYING-BOAT : Two models are shown above : left, the open type, and, right, the enclosed amphibian. is the fact that it is on one of these machines that Mrs. Graysonis making her attempt to cross the Atlantic from America to Denmark. Technically, also, it possesses several noteworthyfeatures. The Sikorsky S.36 is a sesquiplan living-boat of the short-hull variety, the tail surfaces being carried, not on the hull, but by an outrigger from the main plane, braced from thestern of the hull bv two struts. The tail surfaces are thus The first, open cockpit, type is. we believe, a straight-forward flying-boat, while the others are equipped with amphibian gear, which can easily be dismounted, if desired.One of the service open cockpit type was recently supplied to the Andean National Corp., Ltd.—a Canadian concernoperating an oil pipe line in Colombia, S. America. This iine runs along the Magdalena River, where no landing fieldsare available, so the amphibian gear was not required. The THE SIKORSKY S.36.B FLYING-BOAT : Three-quarter rear view of the open type. It is fitted with two Wright "Whirlwind" engines. entirely independent of the boat, and being placed high,are well protected from damage when alighting or taking off, besides being located in the line of thrust.Attached to the hull is a very short lower plane, used mainly for structural purposes, at the ends of which aremounted wing floats. High up above the hull is the large main plane, supported by a form of Warren bracing. Inthis way the structural advantages of the biplane are obtained with, to a very large extent, the aerodynamical efficiencyof the unobstructed monoplane wing ; for it is possible with this arrangement to employ a high aspect wing of medium machine used by Mrs. Grayson and Wilmur Stulz in theirAtlantic attempt is an enclosed cabin amphibian. Metal construction is used very largely on the S.36, thewings and tail structure being entirely of metal, fabric covered, while the hull is of hard wood with sheet duralumincovering. The wing and tail trusses are of simple design, with externalwire bracing replaced by streamline steel struts wherever possible, thus reducing vibration to a minimum and alsofacilitating assembly. The wing construction is also of simple yet original design. The internal structure is of 738
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