The Sikorsky S-29-A was an all-metal, twin-engine biplane airliner, first flown in 1924. It was the first aircraft aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky built after coming to the United States, hence the special "-A" suffix signifying "America". The pilot and mechanic sat in an open cockput 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, acting (among others) as a flying cigar store.

After being bought by Roscoe Turner in 1929, it appeared in the Hollywood movie Howard Hughes' film 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: 129 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)

Related content

Related development:

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: S-18 - S-19 - S-20 - S-29-A - S-30 - S-31 - S-32