Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft | Designer Igor Sikorsky | |
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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.
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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) and acting as a flying cigar store (among other roles) .
After being bought by Roscoe Turner in 1929, it appeared in the Howard Hughes Hollywood movie Hell's Angels, taking the part of a Gotha bomber. The S-29-A crashed during filming and was damaged beyond repair.