Sikorsky S-18

S-18
Sikorsky S-18
Role Fighter
National origin Russian Empire
Manufacturer Russian Baltic Railroad Car Works
Designer Igor Sikorsky
Number built 2

The Sikorsky S-18 was a Russian twin engine aircraft designed by Igor Sikorsky and built by the Russian Baltic Railroad Car Works aviation division at Petrograd during World War I.

Design and development

The S-18 was a large three bay biplane fighter/interceptor powered by two 150 hp (112 kW) Sunbeam Crusader V-8 water-cooled engines mounted on the lower wing in a pusher configuration. The aircraft featured armor protection for both crew members with the gunner/observer seated in the nose and armed with a single machine gun. The aircraft was very heavy and with the less than reliable Sunbeam engines neither example built was able to leave the ground.[1][2]

Specifications

Data from Russian Aviation Museum[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two
  • Length: 31 ft 10 in (9.7 m)
  • Upper wingspan: 54 ft 2 in (16.5 m)
  • Lower wingspan: 50 ft 2 in (15.3 m)
  • Wing area: 620 sq ft (58 m2)
  • Empty weight: 3,274 lb (1,485 kg)
  • Gross weight: 4,630 lb (2,100 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Sunbeam Crusader V-8, side-valve, water-cooled, piston engine, 150 hp (110 kW) each

Performance

  • Wing loading: 7.4 lb/sq ft (36.2 kg/m2) max load

References

  1. ^ "The Russian Years". www.sikorskyarchives.com. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b "S-18". ram-home.com. 4 September 1997. Retrieved 4 May 2017.