The Flying Boat Forum from www.seawings.co.uk

[Cap'n Tony]

Greetings all,

I've been lurking here the past few days and think you all might be able to help.

I'm writing a speculative fiction story involving the proposed but never built Sikorsky S-45, a six-engined behemoth on the Late 631 & SaRo Princess scale, first proposed to Juan Trippe in the late 30's.

So far all I can dig up, other than what I mention above, is the following:

http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1939/1939%20-%201006.pdf

Of course that picture alone is a work of majesty; if whales have angels I imagine they'd look like that.

Do any of you know any good resources on this could-have-been beauty?

V/R,

Cap'n...

[Mr Widgeon]

You could try a search of the Patent Office archives.
There are a lot of "paper airplanes" there.
Try :

http://www.google.com/advanced_patent_search

and enter your search query.
HTH.
_________________
Seaplanes are the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

[Cap'n Tony]

[Cap'n Tony]

UPDATE

I have received correspondence from a docent at the Smithsonian Air & Space museum archives. He was kind enough to send me a copy of an article by Igor Sikorsky from the Nov 1938 issue of Aero Digest detailing the advantages of large-scale flying boats. I will get back to the docent and ask about reproduction and release rights of the article, and if possible post a scan.

Some interesting tidbits included "sneak peek" artist's renditions of the passenger accommodations and lounge. The latter puts most coffee houses to shame. In the article Mr. Sikorsky talks about the incredible amount of passenger space that "will be required for transoceanic travel" ("at least 12 cubic meters per passenger". As someone who just traveled trans-Atlantic 8 hours cattle-class middle-seat on "Untied" (name changed to protect the guilty) I'd have killed for a mere third of that.

Hopefully more to come...

[libelle]

There was a discussion about it here...

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,3243.0/highlight,sikorsky+s-45.html

but it doesn't offer much more.

[Cap'n Tony]

Every little bit helps, thanks, libelle.

[Cap'n Tony]

UPDATE

Made contact with the Sikorsky Archives and they have several original concept drawings and an article on the S-45.

I'm looking in to acquiring said and also checking on distribution rights to see what if anything I can share here.

No promises, but I'll share what info I can.

[Hillbilly]

Any luck? According to Wikipedia the VS-45 (S-45) was deigned for Pan-Am but never built.

[Cap'n Tony]

Actually the Sikorsky Archives were very helpful. I got copied of some blueprints and concept designs for "next generation" super clippers (no set designation at that point; the S-45 designation is "in dispute".

Unfortunately my "rights" are for own-use only and not for distribution or publication.

So I can't share them here.

But they are AMAZING.

Hints: two passenger stories and a third "crew level", central hallways, sealiner-style state rooms, a luxurious full bar and dining room/lounge, etc.
_________________
"No landing ground is necessary for a flying boat, and because water covers two-thirds of the earth it has more advantages than any other machine: a combination of Icarus successful and the dolphin tamed." - Alan Sillitoe, The Lost Flying Boat

[Artie Bob]

Last night, was looking through the 1940 issues of Aviation magazine. There is one photo of the cockpit area of a Sikorsky flying boat mockup. I would think this was a little late for the VS-44. It is not too great, but if you are interested will try to scan it and post.

Best Regards,

Artie bob

[Cap'n Tony]

Love to see it!
_________________
"No landing ground is necessary for a flying boat, and because water covers two-thirds of the earth it has more advantages than any other machine: a combination of Icarus successful and the dolphin tamed." - Alan Sillitoe, The Lost Flying Boat