This Day in Aviation History
November 19th, 1931
First flight of the Sikorsky S-40.
 
The Sikorsky S-40 was an American sesquiplane amphibious flying boat built by Sikorsky in the early 1930s for Pan American World Airways.
 
Sikorsky designed the S-40 in response to a request from Juan Trippe, president of Pan American Airways, for a larger passenger carrying airplane. The S-40s could carry 38 passengers, a significant increase over the S-38’s capacity of eight passengers. The aircraft featured a pantry with an electric refrigerator and stove as well as beautifully appointed smoking lounge with book-ended mahogany wood paneling. Six life rafts were carried on board. Despite its significant capacity increase, the S-40s were not the most aerodynamic aircraft due in large part to the numerous flying wires and strut braces that were used as an exterior support framework, hence the nickname “Flying Forest”. Only three were built as Sikorsky was designing (during the maiden flight of the S-40) and building the more modern S-42 as a replacement aircraft….
 
Source:
Wikipedia, Sikorsky S-40:
 
YouTube, Sikorsky S-40 Flying Boat: http://gstv.us/1lnGgFI
 
YouTube, Sikorsky S-40 Pan American Clipper Seaplanes operating in Havana, Cuba: http://gstv.us/1lnGjRC
 
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Photo from: http://gstv.us/1lnGigB
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