Sikorsky S-42
In Augustus 1931, Pan American was looking for an flying boat capable of transporting a dozen passengers on a distance of 2,500 miles. Sikorsky answered this request with the project of an aircraft that would be able to carry 32 passengers on notably shorter distances. Pan American nevertheless passed order for 3 machines by the end of 1932, and finally, it's in March 30, 1934 that the first flight of the Sikorsky S-42 took place before entering service on the Miami - Rio de Janeiro route in Augustus 1935. Flights between San Francisco and Manila started in 1935.
Pan American also received 4 S-42A's with increased engine power and larger wing span permitting increased payloads. Three S-42B followed, equipped with variable pitch propellers.
Until the end of the 30's, S-42's flew on different routes, like the Manila - Hong-Kong and New-York - Bermudas or even over the North Atlantic in 1937. The S-42 was also known as the Flying Clipper or the Pan Am Clipper.
The S-42 has been the first real transoceanic flying boat. A total of ten aircraft were built, manufactured by the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, Connecticut. All ten were either scrapped or destroyed in accidents.
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