Sikorsky S-43 “Baby Clipper” Pan Am Airways, Inter-Island Airways, JRS-2 Navy seaplane, Pearl Harbor

Because of their normal 750 mile range the first S-43 for Inter-Island Airways was shipped into Honolulu Harbor partially disassembled. The amazing story here is that the plane was then towed the eight miles to Rogers Airport (HNL) by a Nash sedan with an observer setting in the rumble seat- just like it was a big house trailer. Doubtfully few other large seaplanes are arrived at their home airport towed in by a private automobile.

November, 1935, an S-43

at the Honolulu dock

awaiting tow by a Nash.

The S-43

in Hawaii

The Sikorsky S-43 "Baby Clipper". November, 1935, an S-43 at the Honolulu dock awaiting tow by a Nash. Because of their normal 750 mile range the first S-43 for Inter-Island Airways was shipped into Honolulu Harbor partially disassembled. The amazing story here is that the plane was then towed the eight miles to Rogers Airport (HNL) by a Nash sedan with an observer setting in the rumble seat- just like it was a big house trailer. Doubtfully few other large seaplanes are arrived at their home airport towed in by a private automobile.