1938 flying boat family
The Sikorsky S-38 was an American twin-engined ten-seat sesquiplane amphibious aircraft. It was Sikorsky's first widely produced amphibious flying boat, serving successfully for Pan American Airways and the United States military.
Design and development.
The S-38 was developed based upon experience with the Sikorsky S-34 and S-36. The S-38 first flew in May 1928. According to Sikorsky, "The ship had very good takeoff characteristics from land and water. It had a climb of per minute fully loaded, and a maximum speed close to . The ship could cruise nicely around , and it stayed in the air on one engine. All these features were excellent for 1928 and at that time there were no other amphibians with such performance characteristics. In 1929, an S-38 was used by Colonel Lindbergh to inaugurate air mail service between the United States and the Panama Canal." The United States Navy ordered two aircraft, and Pan Am 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 in mid-production.
11 Built
Ten-place model, 80 Built
12-place model, ten Built
United States Army Air Forces designation for the S-38A for evaluation, one aircraft later used as a VIP transport.
United States Army Air Forces designation for a C-6 with minor changes, ten aircraft.
United States Navy designation for the S-38A, two aircraft later converted to XRS-2 transports.
United States Navy designation for the S-38B, four aircraft later converted to RS-3 transports.
United States Navy designation for two XPS-2 converted as transports.
United States Navy/Marine Corps designation for the S-38B transport version, three aircraft and conversions from PS-3.
Operators.
Private operators.
Some notable private owners include:
Reproductions.
During the 1990s two reproduction S-38s were built by the late Buzz Kaplan's “Born Again Restorations,” of Owatonna, Minnesota. One was produced for Samuel Curtis Johnson Jr., the son of Herbert Fisk Johnson, to recreate his father's flight, which he completed in 1998. the plane is suspended from the ceiling of Fortaleza Hall in the S. C. Johnson &amp; Son company headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin . The other S-38 replica, "N28V", appeared in the movie "The Aviator" (2004), a story loosely based on the life of Howard Hughes, who owned an S-38 during his lifetime. it is owned by Kermit Weeks and located at the Fantasy of Flight Museum in Polk City, Florida, bearing the "Osa's Ark" paint scheme.
Specifications (S-38-B).
"Data from" Aerofiles : Sikorsky, American flying boats and amphibious aircraft : an illustrated historyGeneral characteristics* Crew: 2* Capacity: 8 - 10 pax / payload* Aspect ratio: * Airfoil: Sikorsky GS-1* Propellers: 2-bladed ground-adjustable metal propellers
Performance* Endurance: * g limits: * Roll rate: 
See also.
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References.
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