Sikorsky S-39

S-39
	Sikorsky S-39 of the Civil Air Patrol, 1942
Role	Flying boat
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight	24 December 1929; 94 years ago
Number built	21

The Sikorsky S-39 is an American light amphibious aircraft produced by Sikorsky Aircraft during the early 1930s. The S-39 was a smaller, single-engine version of the S-38.^[1]

Operational history[edit]

Spirit of Africa[edit]

Filmmakers Martin and Osa Johnson used a giraffe-patterned S-39 Spirit of Africa, with companion zebra-striped S-38 Osa's Ark, to explore Africa extensively, making safari movies and books.^[2]

Military usage[edit]

One example of the S-39 was acquired by the United States Army Air Corps in 1932, given the designation Y1C-28. It was evaluated for use in coastal patrol and light transport roles; in 1934 it was redesignated C-28 and assigned as a liaison aircraft to the United States Military Academy.^[3]

At least one S-39 saw service with the Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol from 1942 to 1943. This was part of a fleet of civilian aircraft flown by volunteers along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, searching for both German submarines and for allied ships in distress. Seaplanes such as the S-39 were sometimes used for search and rescue if another aircraft crashed or went missing.^[4] A surviving CAP S-39, previously based at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is currently on display at the New England Air Museum.

Yacht[edit]

Edward A. Deeds had the yacht Lotosland designed to incorporate aircraft capability. After loss of the planned aircraft on first loading Deeds ordered an S-39-A replacement the next day. The aircraft was intended to allow Deeds to quickly travel from his yacht to business and events ashore.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Variants[edit]

S-39-A: 4-seat version^[8]
S-39-B: Improved 5-seat version of the S-39-A^[8]
S-39-C: Converted from S-39-B^[9]
C-28: One example of the S-39 acquired by the United States Army Air Corps

Surviving aircraft[edit]

904 – S-39-B on static display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.^[1]
Composite – S-39-C airworthy with at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.^[10]^[11] It was recovered from Alaska in 1965 and incorporated parts of five S-39s. It was restored by Dick Jackson and first flew in 2003.^[9]^[12]
920 – S-39-C under restoration with Frederick W. Patterson III of American Canyon, California. This is the last S-39 produced and was originally owned by Shell Eastern, the original name of the Shell Oil Company.^[13]^{[failed verification]}

Specifications (S-39A)[edit]

Data from Aerofiles : Sikorsky,^[14] American flying boats and amphibious aircraft : an illustrated history^[15]

General characteristics

Crew: 1 or 2
Capacity: 4 or 5 pax / 1,145–1,300 lb (519–590 kg) payload
Length: 31 ft 11 in (9.73 m)
Wingspan: 52 ft 0 in (15.85 m)
Wing area: 320 sq ft (30 m²)
Airfoil: Sikorsky GS-1 ^[16]
Empty weight: 2,678 lb (1,215 kg)
Gross weight: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 300 hp (220 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
Cruise speed: 97 mph (156 km/h, 84 kn)
Stall speed: 54 mph (87 km/h, 47 kn)
Range: 375 mi (604 km, 326 nmi)

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b "Sikorsky S-39B "Jungle Gym"". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
^ "Flying Expedition To Africa To Visit Forbidden Area." Popular Mechanics, April 1933.
^ "Sikorsky Y1C-28." National Museum of the United States Air Force, June 24, 2009. Retrieved: July 15, 2017.
^ Blazich, Frank A. Jr. (2020). An honorable place in American air power": Civil Air Patrol coastal patrol operations, 1942-1943 (PDF). Air University Press. p. 109-112. ISBN 978-1-58566-305-7. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
^ "The Diesel Yacht Lotosland". MotorBoating. February 1931. pp. 90–91. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
^ Pacific American Steamship Association; Shipowners Association of the Pacific Coast (August 1929). "Diesel Yacht Lotosland". Pacific Marine Review. San Francisco: J.S. Hines: 29. Retrieved 23 October 2020.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "S38" (PDF). NEAM News. Windsor Locks, Ct.: New England Air Museum. Fall 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
^ ^a ^b "A.T.C. #375" (PDF). Golden Wings Flying Museum. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b Jackson, Dick. "40 Years and 40,000 Hours". Spirit of Igor. Richard Jackson. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
^ "1930 Sikorsky S-39". Fantasy of Flight. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
^ "FAA REGISTRY [N50V]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
^ Jackson, Dick. "40 Years and 40,000 Hours - Part 2". Spirit of Igor. Richard Jackson. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
^ "FAA REGISTRY [N58V]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
^ Eckland, K.O. "american airplanes: Sikorsky". aerofiles.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
^ Johnson, E.R. (2009). American flying boats and amphibious aircraft: an illustrated history. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. pp. 188–189. ISBN 978-0-7864-3974-4.
^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

External links[edit]

[NEAM-1] "Sikorsky S-39B "Jungle Gym"". New England Air Museum. Retrieved 21 September 2021.

[2] "Flying Expedition To Africa To Visit Forbidden Area." Popular Mechanics, April 1933.

[3] "Sikorsky Y1C-28." National Museum of the United States Air Force, June 24, 2009. Retrieved: July 15, 2017.

[4] Blazich, Frank A. Jr. (2020). An honorable place in American air power": Civil Air Patrol coastal patrol operations, 1942-1943 (PDF). Air University Press. p. 109-112. ISBN 978-1-58566-305-7. Retrieved September 21, 2021.

[5] "The Diesel Yacht Lotosland". MotorBoating. February 1931. pp. 90–91. Retrieved 23 October 2020.

[6] Pacific American Steamship Association; Shipowners Association of the Pacific Coast (August 1929). "Diesel Yacht Lotosland". Pacific Marine Review. San Francisco: J.S. Hines: 29. Retrieved 23 October 2020.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[7] "S38" (PDF). NEAM News. Windsor Locks, Ct.: New England Air Museum. Fall 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 23 October 2020.

[UCAS-8] "A.T.C. #375" (PDF). Golden Wings Flying Museum. Retrieved 7 August 2018.

[SoIH1-9] Jackson, Dick. "40 Years and 40,000 Hours". Spirit of Igor. Richard Jackson. Retrieved 7 August 2018.

[10] "1930 Sikorsky S-39". Fantasy of Flight. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2018.

[11] "FAA REGISTRY [N50V]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.

[12] Jackson, Dick. "40 Years and 40,000 Hours - Part 2". Spirit of Igor. Richard Jackson. Retrieved 7 August 2018.

[13] "FAA REGISTRY [N58V]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.

[Sikorsky-14] Eckland, K.O. "american airplanes: Sikorsky". aerofiles.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.

[Johnson-15] Johnson, E.R. (2009). American flying boats and amphibious aircraft: an illustrated history. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. pp. 188–189. ISBN 978-0-7864-3974-4.

[Selig-16] Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

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v t e Sikorsky aircraft
Fixed-wing aircraft (company designations)	S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9 S-10 S-11 S-12 S-13 S-14 S-15 S-16 S-17 S-18 S-19 S-20 S-21 S-22/23/24/25/26/27 S-28 S-29-A S-30 S-31 S-32 S-33 S-34 S-35 S-36 S-37 S-38 S-39 S-40 S-41 S-42 S-43 VS-44 S-45
Fixed-wing aircraft (military designations)	C-6 C-28 JRS JR2S PS P2S RS XBLR-3 XPBS XSS XV-2
Helicopters (company designations)	VS-300 (S-46) S-47 S-48 S-49 S-50 S-51 S-52 S-53 S-54 S-55 S-56 S-57 S-58 S-59 S-60 S-61 S-61L/N S-61R S-62 S-63 S-64 S-65 S-66 S-67 S-68 S-69 S-70 S-71 S-72 S-73 S-74 S-75 S-76 S-80 S-92 S-95 S-97 S-100 S-102 S-103 S-300 S-333 S-434
Helicopters (military designations)	SH-3 Sea King HH-3E/F R-4 H-5 H-6 H-18 H-19 Chickasaw H-34 Choctaw CH-37 Mojave XH-39 HH-52A Seaguard CH-53 Sea Stallion CH-53E Super Stallion CH-53K King Stallion MH-53 CH-54 Tarhe UH-60 Black Hawk HH-60G Pave Hawk HH-60J/MH-60T MH-60R/S Seahawk SH-60B/F Seahawk H-60J/K VH-60 RAH-66 Comanche VH-92 Patriot CH-124 Sea King CH-148 Cyclone HLH
Experimental aircraft	Cypher/Cypher II Firefly Raider Raider X SB-1 X2 XBLR-3 XV-2

v t e United States military transport aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems
Army/Air Force sequence (1925-1962)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8 C-9 C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16 C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20 C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-28 C-29 C-30 C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34 C-35 C-36 C-37 C-38 C-39 C-40 C-41 C-41A C-42 C-43 C-44 C-45 C-46 C-47 C-47F C-47T AC-47 C-48 C-49 C-50 C-51 C-52 C-53 C-54 C-55 C-56 C-57 C-58 C-59 C-60 C-61 C-62 C-63 C-64 C-65 C-66 C-67 C-68 C-69 C-70 C-70B C-71 C-72 C-73 C-74 C-75 C-76 C-77 C-77B–D C-78 C-79 C-80 C-81 C-82 C-83 C-83A C-83B C-84 C-85 C-86 C-87 C-88 C-89 C-90 C-91 C-92 C-93 C-94 C-95 C-96 C-97 KC-97 C-98 C-99 C-100 C-101 C-102 C-103 C-104 C-105 C-106 C-107 C-108 C-109 C-110 C-111 C-112 C-113 C-114 C-115 C-116 C-117 C-117D C-118 C-119 AC-119 C-120 C-121 C-121F EC-121 C-122 C-123 C-123A C-124 C-125 C-126 C-127² C-127 (I) C-127 (II) C-128 C-129 C-130 C-130J AC-130 DC-130 EC-130/H HC-130 KC-130 LC-130 MC-130 WC-130 C-131 NC-131H C-132 C-133 C-134 C-135 KC-135 C-136 C-137² YC-137 (I) YC-137 (II) C-137 C-138¹ C-139¹ C-140 C-141 C-142
Tri-service sequence (1962-present)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7² C-7 RC-7 C-8 C-9 C-10² C-10 KC-10 C-11 C-12 RC-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16¹ C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20² C-20A–D C-20F–J C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-27J C-28 C-29 C-30¹ C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34¹ C-35 C-36³ C-37 C-37B C-38 C-39¹ C-40 C-41 C-42¹ C-43¹ C-44¹ C-45 C-46
Revived original sequence (2005-present)	C-143 C-144 C-145 C-146 C-147
Non-sequential designations	C-767 C-767B C-880
Related designations	CT-39 CT-43 CV-2 CV-7
¹ Not assigned • ² Assigned to multiple types • ³ Unconfirmed

S-39

Sikorsky S-39 of the Civil Air Patrol, 1942
Role	Flying boat Type of aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight	24 December 1929; 94 years ago (1929-12-24)
Number built	21

Sikorsky S-39

Operational history[edit]

Spirit of Africa[edit]

Military usage[edit]

Yacht[edit]

Variants[edit]

Surviving aircraft[edit]

Specifications (S-39A)[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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