Sikorsky S-34
# Sikorsky S-34

The Sikorsky S-34 was a 1920s American six-seat sesquiplane, designed and built by the Sikorsky Manufacturing Corporation. Only one was built, but the design led to the successful Sikorsky S-38.

## Design and development

The S-34 was a sesquiplane amphibian with a boat hull, being powered by two tractor 200 hp (149 kW) Wright Whirlwind J-4 engines. It had a boom-mounted twin-rudder tail unit and room inside the hull for five passengers. During a test flight in November 1927, one engine failed and the S-34 crashed and sank. Igor Sikorksy and the others on board escaped without injury but the S-34 was destroyed. It was the first Sikorsky aircraft with a boat hull and would lead to a family of similar flying boats and amphibians.

## Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

* Crew: one
* Capacity: five
* Length: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)
* Wingspan: 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m)
* Height: 10 ft 7 in (3.23 m)
* Wing area: 396 sq ft (36.79 $m^2)$
* Empty weight: 2,900 lb (1,315 kg)
* Gross weight: 4,500 lb (2,041 kg)
* Powerplant: 2 × Wright Whirlwind J-4 , 200 hp (149 kW) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 45 mph (72.4 km/h, 39 kn)
* Range: 360 mi (579 km, 310 nmi)
* Endurance: 3 hours 0 minutes
* Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,572 m)
