Sikorsky S-29-A

Sikorsky and his colleagues began work on the machine in the spring of 1923 on a farm near Roosevelt Field on Long Island. The aircraft structure was manufactured from steel with the two bay wire braced strutted wings made from wood and fabric. The machine featured a twin vertical stabilizer design and was originally fitted with a pair of Hispano-Suiza 8 engines rated at 220 hp each. The pilot and mechanic sat in an open cockpit half way between the main wings and the tail, while up to 14 passengers were accommodated forward within the streamlined fuselage.[3][2]

During the winter of 1923-24 work on the project came to a near stand still due to finical concerns. The famed Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff appeared one day and after a discussion with Sikorsky he donated $5,000 to complete the S-29-A. The first flight, piloted by Sikorsky, was on May 4, 1924 and resulted in a forced landing on a golf course, seriously damaging the aircraft. The crash was caused by low engine rpm leading to insufficient thrust due to excessive pitch of the propellers. After rebuilding the aircraft, two 400 hp Liberty L-12 engines were installed. The second flight on Sept 25 was very successful. Flight testing revealed the S-29-A was able to maintain altitude on one engine at a speed of 75 mph.[3][4]

On April 23, 1925 the S-29-A completed its first revenue flight from New York to Washington D.C. The cargo consisted of two Baby Grand pianos, one of which was delivered to the first lady Mrs. Calvin Coolidge. On May 8, 1925 a regular passenger service between New York and Yorktown Virginia began and the S-29-A was officially christened the Yorktown at Bolling Field in Washing D.C. The aircraft made over 300 successful flights, but with the airline industry only just emerging in the United States at that time, the S-29 failed to attract the customers that Sikorsky had hoped.[3]

Eventually Sikorsky sold the S-29-A to Roscoe Turner in 1927 (some sources state 1926) and it had a varied career in merchandising (Curlee Clothing) and acting as a flying cigar store (among other roles).[3]

On April 3, 1928 Turner sold the aircraft to the Caddo Company, Inc. of Hollywood, CA. The President of Caddo, Howard Hughes intended to use it in the making of the movie Hell's Angels. The S-29-A was painted and modified to resemble a Gotha heavy bomber. During filming of a dangerous diving spinning stunt on March 22, 1929 at Pacoima, California the linen of the left wing began tearing and parts of the left engine cowling separated. The pilot bailed out, the S-29-A crashed and was damaged beyond repair.[5][3]