Sikorsky S-43

The Sikorsky S‑43, often called the “Baby Clipper,” was a twin‑engine amphibious flying boat built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in the 1930s. First flown on 14 May 1935, the S‑43 entered service with Pan American Airways and other airlines as a smaller counterpart to the larger S‑42, providing both passenger and cargo transport across coastal routes and remote waterways. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney R‑985 Wasp Junior radial engines, the aircraft could carry up to ten passengers or a comparable freight load while maintaining a cruising speed of roughly 150 mph and a range of 1,000 mi, making it suitable for inter‑island hops in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Its aluminum hull was designed for both land‑plane and seaplane operations, featuring retractable wheeled landing gear and a corrosion‑resistant finish that allowed operations from harbors, rivers, and conventional runways. The S‑43 proved vital during World War II, where it served the U.S. Army Air Forces and Navy for transport, search‑and‑rescue, and liaison duties. Its reliability and versatility helped establish amphibious air travel as a practical commercial service, influencing later designs such as the Sikorsky S‑61 and cementing Igor Sikorsky’s reputation as a pioneer of rotorcraft and amphibian aviation.