Sikorsky S-38BL "Nicolas Suarez"
Aviation 101 Sikorsky S-38
The Sikorsky S-38 was a twin-engine eight-seat amphibious aircraft that was introduced in 1928. Pan American Airways was an early customer, as was the US military. Many of these "flying boats" were also sold to private customers. A total of 101 planes were built.
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| Sikorsky S-38 Amphibious Flying Boat |
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| S-38B Replica - Photo: Javier Gonzalez - Iberian Spotters - airliners.net |
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| Three-view diagram of the S-38B |
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LAB Sikorsky S-38B
Amphibious Aircraft Fleet -
Detailed Histories and Photos of Two Aircraft Operated by Lloyd Aereo Boliviano
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"Nicolas Suarez"
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| Excellent photo of "Nicolas Suarez" from the following website: |
Sikorsky S-38BL c/n 114-15
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| "Nicolas Suarez" - Photo: aviacionboliviana.net |
History:
Built by Sikorsky Manufacturing Co. of Stratford, CT 1930
Hughes Products Co. NC-24V 15 Sep 1932
Howard Hughes " 1933
- his personal "flying yacht"
LAB not given Bolivian reg. no. 14 Dec 1933
- named (baptized) "Nicolas Suarez"
Accident 10 Oct 1941
The aircraft took off from Trinidad with the destination being Guayaramerin. Student pilot L. Veltze was at the controls supervised by LAB Chief Pilot Emilio Beltran; one passenger was on board. Upon approach for a water landing on the Rio Mamore at Guayaramerin, an error by the pilot caused the amphibious craft to crash into the river. All three occupants perished.
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| Howard Hughes at the controls of his S-38BL - reg. NC-24V |
Excellent article from AviacionBoliviana.Net on this type of aircraft that was used in Bolivia.
Link:
http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/aeronaves/sikorsky.htm
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"El Marihui"
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| "El Marihui" operated by Bol-Inca Mining Corp. - Photo: Frank Rezich - aerofiles.com |
Sikorsky S-38B c/n 114-11
History:
Built by Sikorsky Manufacturing Co. at Stratford, CT 1929
Colonial Western Airways NC-9138 1929
- New York
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| Poster from 1929 advertising flights over Niagara Falls |
Colonial Air Transport " 1930-1932
- Boston
American Airways " 1933
- New Jersey
- became American Airlines in 1934
Air Engineers Inc. " 1934
Bol-Inca Mining Corp. Jun 1934
- New York
- aircraft named "El Marihui" - one of three S-38B aircraft operated by Bol-Inca Mining Corp.
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| "El Marihui" sinking - Photo: aviacionboliviana.net |
LAB Jan 1935
Accident 27 Sep 1935
In an attempt to fly from Todos Santos to Cochabamba "El Marihui" crashed into a mountain in the vicinity of Colquiri. The only occupants of the aircraft were the two crew members who survived the crash, but with injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. This is only part of an interesting story that you can find (in Spanish) at the above link from AviacionBoliviana.Net.
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| Croatian pilot Drago Balzareno alongside one of the S-38Bs in Cochabamba |
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If you enjoy this section of early LAB aircraft,
check out the post-1945 section. Link:
http://markspersonalfiles.blogspot.com/…/douglas-dc-6
Also the Facebook Page:
"Friends of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano"
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