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The Sikorsky S-6 was a Russian single engine experimental aircraft similar to the S-5, built in 1911 by
Sikorsky now called the machine the S-6-A and it exhibited remarkable improvement. During one flight with three men on board the aircraft registered a speed of , exceeding the world record at that time and in February 1912 the S-6-A earned the highest award at the 1912 Moscow Aviation Exhibition.
In late spring 1912 Sikorsky began working at the Russian Baltic Railroad Car Works as chief engineer of the aircraft manufacturing division. Work was started on a refined version of the S-6-A called the S-6-B with strengthened landing gear and a mechanism to permit starting the engine from the cockpit. Completed in July, the S-6-B was entered in the international military competition at
Igor Sikorsky
Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky (russian: И́горь Ива́нович Сико́рский, p=ˈiɡərʲ ɪˈvanəvitʃ sʲɪˈkorskʲɪj, a=Ru-Igor Sikorsky.ogg, tr. ''Ígor' Ivánovich Sikórskiy''; May 25, 1889 – October 26, 1972)Fortie ...
.
Design and development
Construction of the first S-6 was started in August 1911. The three bay biplane was powered by an Argus 4-cylinder water-cooled engine producing . Initial flight tests in late November were disappointing, revealing a long take-off run and poor climb performance. Sikorsky disassembled the aircraft and took it home where substantial modifications were undertaken, including lengthening thewingspan
The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777–200 has a wingspan of , and a wandering albatross (''Diomedea exulans'') caught in 1965 had a wingspan o ...
and reducing aerodynamic drag by enclosing the fuselage with wood veneer. Ailerons
An aileron (French for "little wing" or "fin") is a hinged flight control surface usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll (or movement around ...
on the lower wing were removed and strut bracing wires were arranged in pairs with wooden spacers between them, further reducing drag.
Sikorsky now called the machine the S-6-A and it exhibited remarkable improvement. During one flight with three men on board the aircraft registered a speed of , exceeding the world record at that time and in February 1912 the S-6-A earned the highest award at the 1912 Moscow Aviation Exhibition.
In late spring 1912 Sikorsky began working at the Russian Baltic Railroad Car Works as chief engineer of the aircraft manufacturing division. Work was started on a refined version of the S-6-A called the S-6-B with strengthened landing gear and a mechanism to permit starting the engine from the cockpit. Completed in July, the S-6-B was entered in the international military competition at Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
in August and flown by Sikorsky. The S-6-B reached a speed of while carrying a load, climbed to in fifteen minutes and displayed an endurance of greater than 90 minutes. At the end of the competition on 30 September the S-6-B was announced the winner leading to "an order for a few" more of the type.
Specifications (first aircraft)
References
{{Sikorsky Aircraft S-036 Biplanes Single-engined tractor aircraft Russian civil aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1911