Updated: Cradle of Aviation Archives: Willie K’s Sikorsky S-43 Seaplane at Roosevelt Field
The Cradle of Aviation has provided these additional photos of William K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s Sikorsky S-43 at Roosevelt Field in 1936.
Does anyone know what ever happened to the Sikorsky S-43 NC-16925?
Update: From thisdayinaviation.com Submitted by Gary Hammond:
William K. Vanderbilt II’s Sikorsky S-43 amphibian, NC-16925, serial number 4314. This airplane was impressed by the U.S. Army Air Corps 14 September 1941 and designated OA-11, 42-001. It was destroyed in a crash landing at Corcorite Bay, Trinidad, 5 November 1941. All five persons on board were killed.
Howard Kroplick
William K. Vanderbilt Jr. description of the S-43 as written in his book Flying Lanes:
“It is an amphibian with retractable wheels that fold into the side of the ship giving the least amount of wind resistance; has a wing span of 86 feet, while the hull is 52 feet long. The ship weighs 9 ¾ tons loaded. We could cruise near sea level at 150 statute miles per hour with 60 percent of power. Twin, 750 horsepower, supercharged Pratt and Whitney engines…capable of delivering 800 horsepower each at the takeoff…”
“The cabin arrangements are very comfortable. The entrance to the ship is through a large hatch aft with a spacious companion-way leading below into a water-tight compartment where the baggage and extra parts are stored in roomy lockers. A wash-room for the passengers is also located here…the main cabin containing four large comfortable armchairs, well upholstered and the only ones of this kind yet installed in a plane. A large full-length sofa and one small chair complete the seating arrangements.
“The cabin is well ventilated, adequately lighted and finished in Flex-wood…a pantry with sink, ice-box and lockers for glass, silver and china; two large clothes lockers and a crew’s wash-room. Then another water-tight door leads into the control space, where instruments reign supreme.
“To a novice the vast display on the instrument board would seem bewildering, perhaps superfluous, but all of them are necessary in a modern ship which leaves nothing to chance in the way of safety appliances, and amongst them we find the automatic pilot that flies the ship for you at the human pilot’s desire. Radio sending and receiving sets, direction finders, both oral and visual and, well, I could go on for an hour, but we must start for we have a long voyage ahead of us.”
Willie K. and the S-43 at Fisher Island in Biscayne Bay, Florida in 1934/1935. Not to be confused with Fisher's Island on the Long Island Sound.
Other Photos of Willie K's S-43 Found on the Internet
Oakland, 1937
Unknown
Comments
I think I saw it at The Cradle of Aviation Museum at the old Mitchell Field near NCC
Didn’t the plane become a Navy JRS-1? Wikipedia shows it having been built for younger brother Harold, not Willie. More research required. Sam, III
Howard,
According to: https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/dayton-wright-airplane-company/
“William K. Vanderbilt II’s Sikorsky S-43 amphibian, NC-16925, serial number 4314. This airplane was impressed by the U.S. Army Air Corps 14 September 1941 and designated OA-11, 42-001. It was destroyed in a crash landing at Corcorite Bay, Trinidad, 5 November 1941. All five persons on board were killed.”
I then checked: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html
for the aircraft serial number and confirmed the above:
S/N 42-1 Sikorsky OA-11 MSN 4314. Civilian S-43 purchased by USAAF Sep 14, 1941. Was originally NC16925.
W/o after crash landing in Cocorite Bay, Trinidad Nov 5, 1941. All 5 aboard killed.
Maybe you can get more info. from either the National Archives or Air Force or National Air & Space Museum.
Gary
PS You gave the wrong registration # - not 16825, should be 16925!
_______________________
Howard Kroplick
Gary, thanks for the information and the correct registration #.