Sikorsky S-16

S-16

Full scale non-flying replica of the S-16 exhibited at the New England Air Museum in Connecticut.
Role	Fighter
Manufacturer	RBVZ (Russo-Baltic Wagon Works)
Designer	Igor Sikorsky
First flight	6 February 1915
Introduction	January 1916
Retired	1923
Primary users	Imperial Russian Air Service Soviet Air Force

The Sikorsky S-16 (named after its designer) or RBVZ S-XVI (named after its manufacturer) was a Russian equi-span single-bay two-seat biplane designed by Igor Sikorsky in 1914-15. Conceived in response to demand for an escort fighter for the Ilya Muromets bombers, it was noteworthy in that it was one of the first aircraft to possess synchronisation gear for its 7.7mm machine gun. The first S-XVI was completed on 6 February 1915 with an 80 hp engine instead of the intended 100 hp because of supply problems. On 17 December 1915, the Russian government placed an order for 18 aircraft, these being delivered in early 1916.

Operational history

Although highly maneuverable, the S-XVI possessed a comparatively poor performance due to insufficient power. A further small batch were completed in 1917, with the aircraft being used during the Russian Revolution and staying in service until 1923.

Operators

Russian Empire

Imperial Russian Air Force

Soviet Union

Soviet Air Force

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: One
Length: 6.20m (20 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 8.40m (27 ft 6¾ in)
Height: 2.78m (9 ft 1½ in)
Wing area: 25.36m² (272.98 ft²)
Empty weight: 407 kg (897 lb)
Loaded weight: 676 kg (1,490 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × 100hp Le Rhone/80hp Gnome air-cooled rotary engine, 75 kW (100 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 120 km/h (75 mph)
Rate of climb: 8 minutes to 1,000 metres (8 minutes to 3,280 ft)

Armament

Guns: 1 x 7.7 mm Lavrov or 1 х Vickers, 500 rounds machine gun

Bibliography

William Green and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Colour Library Direct, Godalming, UK: 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.

External links

Media related to Sikorsky S-16 at Wikimedia Commons

Sikorsky aircraft

Fixed-wing aircraft (company designations)	S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 S-5 S-6 S-7 S-8 S-9 S-10 S-11 S-12 S-13 S-14 S-15 S-16 S-17 S-18 S-19 S-20 S-21 S-22 S-23 S-24 S-25 S-26 S-27 S-28 S-29-A S-30 S-31 S-32 S-33 S-34 S-35 S-36 S-37 S-38 S-39 S-40 S-41 S-42 S-43 VS-44 S-45

Fixed-wing aircraft (military designations)	C-6 C-28 JRS JR2S PS RS XBLR-3 XPBS XSS XV-2

Helicopters (company designations)	VS-300 (S-46) S-47 S-48 S-49 S-51 S-52 S-53 S-54 S-55 S-56 S-57 S-58 S-59 S-60 S-61 S-61L/N S-61R S-62 S-63 S-64 S-65 S-66 S-67 S-68 S-69 S-70 S-71 S-72 S-73 S-74 S-75 S-76 S-80 S-92/H-92 S-97 S-300 S-333 S-434

Helicopters (military designations)	SH-3 HH-3E/F R-4 H-5 H-6 H-18 H-19 H-34 CH-37 XH-39 HH-52A CH-53 CH-53E CH-53K CH-54 HH-60G HH-60J MH-60R/S SH-60B/F SH-60J/K UH-60 VH-60 RAH-66 CH-124 CH-148

Experimental aircraft	Cypher Cypher II Firefly X2 XBLR-3 XV-2

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