S-16

Sikorsky S-16 circa 1915
Role	Fighter Type of aircraft
National origin	Russian Empire
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, 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 7.7 mm 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. At least one aircraft have been used by the Ukrainian People's Republic after 1917.^[1]

Operators

Russian Empire

Imperial Russian Air Service

Soviet Russia

Soviet Air Forces

Ukrainian People's Republic

Ukrainian People's Republic Air Fleet

Specifications

Data from Sikorsky S-XVI escort fighter^[2]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
Height: 2.78 m (9 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 25.36 m² (273.0 sq ft)
Empty weight: 407 kg (897 lb)
Gross weight: 676 kg (1,490 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Le Rhône 9J 9-cylinder air-cooled rotary engine, 75 kW (100 hp)

Alternative engine : 80 hp (60 kW) Gnome Monosoupape 7 Type A 7-cylinder rotary engine

Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
Service ceiling: 3,500 m (11,500 ft)
Rate of climb: 2.08 m/s (409 ft/min)
Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in 8 minutes
Wing loading: 26.8 kg/m² (5.5 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.14 hp/kg

Armament

Guns: 1 x 7.7 mm Lavrov machine gun or 1 х Vickers machine gun with 500 rpg

References

Bibliography

External links

Sikorsky aircraft

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-22/23/24/25/26/27 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 P2S RS XBLR-3 XPBS XSS XV-2
Helicopters (company designations)	VS-300 (S-46) S-47 S-48 S-49 S-50 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 S-95 S-97 S-100 S-102 S-103 S-300 S-333 S-434
Helicopters (military designations)	SH-3 Sea King HH-3E/F R-4 H-5 H-6 H-18 H-19 Chickasaw H-34 Chocataw CH-37 Mojave XH-39 HH-52A Seaguard CH-53 Sea Stallion CH-53E Super Stallion CH-53K King Stallion MH-53 CH-54 Tarhe UH-60 Black Hawk HH-60G Pave Hawk HH-60J/MH-60T MH-60R/S Seahawk SH-60B/F Seahawk H-60J/K VH-60 RAH-66 Comanche VH-92 Patriot CH-124 Sea King CH-148 Cyclone HLH
Experimental aircraft	Cypher/Cypher II Firefly Raider Raider X SB-1 X2 XBLR-3 XV-2

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