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

Sikorski produced two machines in 1912, the S.7 monoplane and the S.8 biplane. The S.7, powered by a French Gnome rotary engine of 70 h.p., was quite successful, and capable of reaching 62-5 m.p.h., but its successor, with a 50 h.p. Gnome, proved to be seriously underpowered and was considered a failure.

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

Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky

Sikorsky S-7

  The S-7 was completed in July 1912, and utilized many parts from the S-6A. This two-seater monoplane was powered by a 70hp Gnome engine and sat two people side-by-side. Built mainly for the Russian Military's International Aviation Competition of 1912, it participated in the event until its undercarriage collapsed during a plowed field take-off trial. Subsequently repaired, it was used as a trainer during the summer of 1913 and eventually sold to the Bulgarian army on the eve of World War I. Nothing further is known of this aircraft.



Sikorsky Aircraft Data
Model: S-6B S-7 S-8 S-9 S-5A (twin float) S-5A (single float) S-10 (competition)
Year: 1912 1912 1912 1913 1912 1912 1913
Engine(s) type: 100hp Argus 70hp Gnome 50hp Gnome 100hp Gnome(1) 60hp Gnome 80hp Gnome 80hp Gnome
Length, m: 8.5 8.2 7.5 - 8 8 8
Wing Span, m: top/bottom 14.9/10.9 10 12/8 12 12/8.5 12/8.5 16.9/12
Wing Area, m2: 37.5 20 27 30 30 30 46
Wt. empty, kg: 590 449 - 690 - - 567
Wt. load, kg: 327 327 - 300 - - 444
Wt. flying, kg: 917 776 - 990 - - 1011
Wingload, kg/m2: 10.4 10.8 13 12.9 - - 22
Powerload, kg/hp: 16 10.2 8.9 7.2 - - 12.7
Speed, km/h: - - - - - - 99
Notes:
1. Gnome Monosoupape.