H.Nowarra, G.Duval Russian Civil and Military Aircraft 1884-1969

Impatient for better results, Sikorski completely re-designed the BIS 2, fitting enlarged ailerons with improved controls, and a 35 h.p. Anzani engine. This, the Sikorski S.3, reached a speed of 49 m.p.h. and trebled the altitude of the BJS 2.

A.Durkota, T.Darcey, V.Kulikov The Imperial Russian Air Service (Flying Machines)

Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky

Sikorsky S-3

  Undaunted, Sikorsky began designing the S-3 in July 1910. This aircraft was very similar to the S-2 but was powered by a 40hp Anzani engine, and had ailerons located on both wings. In late November 1910, Sikorsky began flight testing the S-3 with a series of straight-line flights, lasting 30-40 seconds each, during which altitudes of 40 feet were reached. Sikorsky then decided to try a circuit of the field on December 13, 1910. The S-3 climbed well and had reached some 100 feet altitude as it crossed the airfield boundary. However, as he started a gentle turn, the engine began to lose power. Sikorsky made an emergency landing on a frozen pond, the ice broke under the impact, and the S-3 was badly damaged. The whole flying career of the S-3 lasted a little over a week and consisted of thirteen flights of a total duration of about seven minutes. The S-3 was scrapped and much of the hardware was eventually used in the S-4.



Sikorsky Aircraft Data
Model: S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-6A
Year: 1910 1910 1910 1910 1911 1911 1912
Engine(s) type: 15hp Anzani 25hp Anzani 35hp Anzani 50hp Anzani 50hp Argus 100hp Argus 100hp Argus
Length, m: 8 8 8 8 8.5 8.8 9.2
Wing Span; m: top/bottom 8 8 8 8 12/9 11.8 14.5/11.7
Wing Area, m2: 24 24 24 24 33 35.4 39
Wt. empty, kg: 180 190 220 260 320 650 650
Wt. fuel/oil, kg: 10 10 20 30 40 60 60
Wt. load, kg: 70 70 90 100 120 340 450
Wt. flying, kg: 250 260 310 360 440 990 1100
Wingload, kg/m2: 10.4 10.8 13 12.9 13.3 24 23
Powerload, kg/hp: 16 10.2 8.9 7.2 8.8 8.5 9