Sikorsky S-29-A

S-29-A
Role	Biplane Airliner
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Sikorsky
Designer	Igor Sikorsky
First flight	4 May 1924
Number built	1

The Sikorsky S-29-A was an all-metal, twin-engine biplane airliner, first flown in 1924. It was the first aircraft that aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky designed and built after coming to the United States, hence the special "-A" suffix signifying "America". The pilot and mechanic sat in an open cockpit between the upper wing and the tail, while up to 16 passengers were accommodated within the streamlined fuselage.

With the airline industry only just emerging in the United States at that time, the S-29 failed to attract the customers that Sikorsky had hoped. It was eventually sold, however, and had a varied career in merchandising (Curlee Clothing), acting (among other roles) as a flying cigar store.

After being bought by Roscoe Turner in 1929, it appeared in the Hollywood movie Howard Hughes' Hell's Angels, taking the part of a Gotha bomber. The S-29-A crashed during filming and was damaged beyond repair.

Specifications (S-29-A)

General characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and mechanic
• Capacity: up to 16 passengers
• Length: 49 ft 10 in (15.19 m)
• Wingspan: 69 ft 0 in (21.04 m)
• Height: ft in ( m)
• Wing area: ft² ( m²)
• Empty: lb ( kg)
• Loaded: lb ( kg)
• Maximum takeoff: lb ( kg)
• Powerplant: 2x Liberty engines, 400 hp (298 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 115 mph (207 km/h)
• Range: miles ( km)
• Service ceiling: ft ( m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)