Sikorsky S-42 - Operational History

Operational History

Flying for Pan American Airways, a total of 10 S-42s were built, manufactured by the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, Connecticut. The prototype first flew on March 30, 1934.

The S-42 only served with Pan American Airways. It was used on many routes, including the San Francisco - Hawaii, New York - Bermuda, and Hong Kong -China. The S-42 named the Pan Am Clipper was used to survey the route from the US West Coast to China, making the first survey flight from Alameda, California to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in April 1935.

The S-42 was also known as the Flying Clipper and the Pan Am Clipper.

British Marine Aircraft Ltd. was formed in February 1936 to produce S-42-A flying boats under licence in the United Kingdom but nothing came of this. The company built a factory on the western side of the Hamble peninsula with a slipway to Southampton Water. When the deal fell through the company was sold to Henry Folland, who renamed it Folland Aircraft Limited.

In 1938 and 1939, this type of flying boat was the only one known to land in the Kingman Reef (on its journey between Hawai'i and American Samoa).

All Sikorsky S-42s were either scrapped or destroyed in accidents.