Pan Americans Sikorsky S-43 Flying Amphibian..wmv

Pan American Airways' founder and president, Juan Terry Trippe, commissioned Sikorsky to design the S-43 in 1934. These twin-engine, 18 passenger, "Baby Clipper" amphibians were designed for coastal and other routes in the Caribbean and in Central and South America. The first and second airplanes, however, went to Inter-Island Airways, Ltd, (now Hawaiian Airlines) in 1935. Inter-Island later took delivery of two more S-43s. Pan American ordered a total of twelve S-43's; one source, though, says the total was 13. Of these Pan Am, themselves, operated only three; the balance going to subsidiaries Pan Air do Brazil (7) and Pan American-Grace Airways, Inc. - PANAGRA - (2). Two were also flown by Reeve Aleutian Airways in Alaska. After a crash, Pan Am's c/n 4316 (NC-16927) was rebuilt, using parts from crashed c/n's 4307 and 4308, as a twin-tailed S-43B. William Vanderbilt and Howard Hughes each ordered S-43's for personal use. Vanderbilt's was fitted out, and used, as a "Flying Yacht"; Hughes' was fitted with extra fuel tanks and radio/navigation gear for a round-the-world record attempt. Hughes later had his NX-440 rebuilt in the twin-tailed S-43B configuration and thereupon crashed it in Lake Mead. The record attempt was never made with the Sikorsky but Hughes did break Wiley Post's record in a Lockheed L-14 "Super Electra" in July 1938. The U.S. Army bought seven as OA-8s and the U.S. Navy bought five as JRS-1s; some of the Navy's were allocated to the U.S. Marine Corps and to the U.S. Coast Guard. Another buyer was China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC), of which Pan Am owned 45%. CNAC allocated one of these to Madame Chiang Kai-Shek for her personal use as head of the Chinese Air Force. Aeromaritime, of France, operated S-43s in West Africa. Other airlines operated them in Norway, the Philippines and in The Soviet Union.
Specifications (S-43)
General characteristics
Crew: two (pilot, copilot)
Capacity: 15 passengers
Length: 51 ft 2 in (15.60 m)
Wingspan: 86 ft 0 in (26.21 m)
Height: 17 ft 8 in (5.38 m)
Wing area: 781 ft² (72.5 m²)
Empty: 12,750 lb (5,783 kg)
Loaded: lb ( kg)
Maximum takeoff: 19,096 lb (8,662 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-1690-52 radials, 750 hp (560 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 190 mph (306 km/h)
Range: 775 miles (1,247 km)
Service ceiling: 20,700 ft (6,310 m)
Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
Wing loading: lb/ft² (115.84 kg/m²)
Power/mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)
Music: It's Been A Long, Long Time, Performed by Harry James, Vcls by Helen Forrest.

[@bertcushman7427]

very, very well done! fabulous music. when I watch these videos, I feel as though I had a past life at that time. I would have fit in better..
cheers 🍾🍾🍾🏳️‍🌈

[@user-hw7dm9ik4p]

i like the background song,
quite persuasive about time been

[@buckeyenut39]

Ok I'm confused I thought the S-43 was built to test the hull design for Howard Hughes "Hercules" (Spruce Goose") Not for Pan-Am

[@malcolmjw8750]

I thought the music was ghastly, I switched the sound off.