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Sikorsky S-42

The Sikorsky S-42 seaplane was the world's first big luxury airliner. It was during the inaugural flight of the S-40 on November 19, 1931 that Igor Sikorsky and Charles Lindbergh began discussing an improved and larger aircraft. In the ship's lounge they began making preliminary sketches on the back of a menu. With Juan Trippe's eyes now set on the oceans, the new plane called for an increased lifting capacity that would permit carrying fuel for a 2500 mile nonstop flight against a 30 mile-an-hour wind, at a cruising speed far in excess of the average operating speed of any flying boat at that time. Juan Trippe's challenge was also answered by Glen Martin but Sikorsky's S-42 was to be delivered first as Martin's plane was still almost a year away from completion.

The Sikorsky S-42 is regarded as the first truely American seaplane and was described as the "most beautiful aircraft of its time." Sikorsky's flying boats, however, made little money, and in 1938, United Aircraft directed Sikorsky to stop building them and gave him $250,000 for helicopter development. He would go on to make his most important contributions in the area of helicopter design.