This Day in Aviation History

November 19th, 1931
Introduced: Sikorsky S-40 with Pan American.

The Sikorsky S-40 was an American amphibious flying boat built by Sikorsky in the early 1930s for Pan American World Airways at a cost of $250,000, it was the largest commercial airliner of its time and the world’s largest amphibious aircraft.

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:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_S-40

YouTube, Sikorsky S-40 Flying Boat:
Sikorsky S-40 Flying Boat

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