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Thought I'd fly down to Rio and see whats happening in that part of the world. aircraft Sikorsky S38,

Wow ... that is some nice scenery Bob! But that bird is butt ugly though

Wow ... that is some nice scenery Bob! But that bird is butt ugly though

Yea. I know it is, but it seemed like the most appropriate aircraft to fly to match the title of the photo series. Remember the movie "Flying Down to Rio (1933)" 8-) That was one of the hot spots that the celebrities went to back in those early years.

The Sikorsky S-38 was sometimes called "The Explorer's Air Yacht". Indeed, the S-38 was Sikorsky's first widely produced amphibious flying boat which in addition to serving successfully for Pan American Airways and the U. S. Army, also had numerous private owners who received notoriety for their exploits. Some famous owners include:

Aviator Charles Lindbergh - Surveyed South American and Pacific Ocean routes for Pan Am with Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
Newspaper publisher Robert R. McCormick - Surveyed commercial air routes between North America and Europe.
Venture capitalist John Hay Whitney - Luxury Transport
The Flying Hutchinsons - First attempted around the world flight by a family.
Filmmakers Martin and Osa Johnson - In the zebra-striped S-38 "Osa's Ark", with companion giraffe-patterned S-39 "Spirit of Africa", explored Africa extensively, making safari movies and books.
S. C. Johnson's Herbert Johnson - Explored South America in search of and to research the carnauba wax palm, the source of the world's hardest natural wax. The "Spirit of Carnauba", a replica of this aircraft, exists and is flying today.
One of the two remaining S-38s, N-28V, appears in the movie The Aviator; Hughes actually flew an S-43.

The Navy and Marine designation for this aircraft was RS-3.

A total of 90 (or possibly 101, sources disagree) aircraft were built, manufactured by the Sikorsky Aircraft Company in Stratford, Connecticut. Sikorsky was acquired by United Aircraft and Transport Corporation (now United Technologies Corporation) in mid-production. The aircraft first flew in May 1928.

Excellent little history lesson there Bob ... I like history (but you probably knew from reading the posts from my tour )
Good to see someone is doing some research too! Me likes ... keep 'em coming and keep us informed

incredible!!!

incredible!!!

Thanks Big Truck.

My first time flying down in that part of South America. The scenery down there is beautiful. I'm

Cant blame ya, looks gorgeous, I have to invest in some new scenery it looks like  :o

That the Howard Hughs plane? Great shots and scenery 8-)