Sikorsky S-31

Sikorsky S-31
Role	Civil utility sesquiplane
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Sikorsky Manufacturing Corporation
First flight	September 1925
Number built	1

The Sikorsky S-31 was a 1920s American sesquiplane designed and built by the Sikorsky Manufacturing Corporation and configured for aerial photography.[1]

Design and development

The S-31 was a sesquiplane built for photographic work by the Fairchild Flying Corporation. It had two open cockpits and a cabin for the photographic equipment.[1] The S-31 was powered by a 200 hp (149 kW) Wright Whirlwind J-4 engine and first flew in September 1925.[1] Following participation in the New York Air Races in October 1925 it was shipped to Brazil to be used by Fairchild for aerial photographic work. At some point the S-31 had twin Lewis machine guns ring-mounted on the rear cockpit.[1]

Specifications

Data from [1]

General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Length: 26 ft 0 in (7.92 m)
• Wingspan: 45 ft 0 in (13.72 m) [2]
• Height: 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
• Wing area: 260 sq ft (24.15 m^2) [2]
• Empty weight: 1,700 lb (771 kg)
• Gross weight: 2,900 lb (1,315 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright Whirlwind J-4 , 200 hp (149 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 35 mph (56.3 km/h, 30 kn)
• Endurance: 6 hours 0 minutes
• Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,572 m)

References

1. Best, Martin (1990). "Sikorsky American Fixed-Wing Aircraft - Part 1 S-29A to S-35". Archive. 2002 (4). Air-Britain: 127–133. ISSN 0262-4923.
2. Upper wing