1935 Sikorsky S-43 NC15062

The Sikorsky “Baby Clipper” first flew in 1935 and was a smaller version of the Sikorsky S-42 “Clipper”. It accommodated between 18 and 25 passengers, with a separate two-crew forward cockpit.

53 were built.

On April 14, 1936, an S-43 with a 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) payload, piloted by Boris Sergievsky, set an altitude record for amphibious aircraft when it reached an altitude of 27,950 feet above Stamford, Connecticut. Also aboard was designer Igor Sikorsky.

Reeve Aleutian Airways owned two S-43s during the 1950s, one operational (N53294 purchased 1948 and trade for G-21 in 1957) and one for spares (fuselage at Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum). Another S-43 was operated in Alaska with an unknown operator, wrecked at Chignik, AK, 1950s.

The first of these aircraft came to Alaska in 1937 as part of a search effort for Sigizmund Levanevsky, a famous Russian aviator who had disappeared during an attempt to fly over the North Pole. The Russian government purchased an S-43 to aid in the search for their fallen hero, but the wreckage was never found. Other S-43s came to Alaska with Reeve Aleutian Airway, Pan American Airways, the US Army Air Corps and Alaska Airlines.

NC15062 was one of the Reeve Aleutian Airway S-43s, and was discovered by Alaska Aviation Museum founder Ted Spencer in 1987 being used as a fishing boat.

(Wikipedia) - Sikorsky S-43

MilitaryFactory.com - Sikorsky S-43