The Sikorsky S-41 was an amphibious flying boat airliner produced in the United States in the early 1930s. Essentially a scaled-up monoplane version of the Sikorsky S-38 biplane flying boat, Pan Am operated the type on routes in the Caribbean, South America, and between Boston and Halifax.
The S-41 had a parasol wing configuration, with two radial engines mounted on struts between the fuselage and the wing. The cabin was completely enclosed within the all-metal hull and could seat 15 passengers.
The United States Navy purchased three examples and designated them RS-1; these were joined by two Pan Am aircraft pressed into Navy service and designated RS-5.
S-41A
S-41B
S-41C
RS-1
United States Navy designation for three S-41s for evaluation.
RS-5
Two S-41s impressed into service with the United States Navy.
United States
Pan Am
United States Navy
Accidents and incidents
On 27 August 1931, A Sikorsky S-41, NC41V of Boston-Maine Airways crash landed in while making the run between Halifax (N.S.) and Boston (MA). After clinging to the sides of a partially inflated life raft in rough seas for two hours, the 12 survivors were rescued by the F/V Nova Julia, a mackerel seiner out of Gloucester MA, captained by Capt. Leo Favaloro. There was one fatality. Seventy-year-old Edward Bamwell was assumed trapped in the wreckage as it disappeared beneath the waves just a moment after he gallantly allowed one of the three women passengers to precede him to the waiting raft. The Sikorsky had only been in service one month. Heavy fog was cited as the cause of the crash. The S-41 was repaired and reregistered as NC60V.
On 28 October 1931, Col Thomas C. Turner, Chief of the Aviation Section of the United States Marine Corps, flew as a passenger in a Sikorsky RS-1 to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After arrival, the aircraft became stuck in the sand; when he got out to inspect it, he was struck in the head by one of its propellers. He died from his injuries two days later.
Data from Munson 1982, p.212
General characteristics
Crew: Two
Capacity: 14 passengers
Length: 45 ft 2 in (13.77 m)
Wingspan: 78 ft 9 in (24.00 m)
Height: 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m)
Wing area: 729 ft2 (67.8 m2)
Empty weight: 8,100 lb (3,680 kg)
Gross weight: 13,800 lb (6,270 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1860 Hornet B, 575 hp (429 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 133 mph (213 km/h)
Range: 920 miles (1,500 km)
Service ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,120 m)
