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SIKORSKY S-39, NC-50V (s/n 912), represents one of the 21 aircraft of this type built by Igor Sikorsky in 1930-1931. 50V is the only airworthy example of the type and is the oldest flying Sikorsky in the world today. It was painstakingly restored by Dick Jackson of Rochester, NH. The project began in the 1960s, with the hull of NC-50V being discovered in the Alaskan bush. 40,000 hours and nearly four decades later, the S-39 flew again. The Spirit of Igor was named for the Spirit of Africa, an S-39 owned by African naturalists Martin and Osa Johnson, and for Igor Sikorsky himself. The giraffe spotting on the fuselage is authentic to a specific species. It was projected onto the hull in order for the painting to be completed. See History for more detail about the restoration. Own a piece of history. To acquire the Spirit of Igor:
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| Vintage Airplane features the S-39 in its April 2004 cover story. See the cover and download the article courtesy of Vintage Airplane. The National Air Tour is fighting a proposed rule change that would virtually eliminate paid airplane rides. See more about this rule change and how you can be heard at http://nationalairtours.org/sight.html. Discovery Wings has been airing their coverage of the National Air Tour in the documentary titled "History Takes Flight." According to the producers, the air tour piece is around 9 minutes. The Savvy Traveler piece from Public Radio International was pushed back to run THIS weekend (Dec. 13 & 14). Pilots can check the web site at http://www.savvytraveler.org/stations/ for the local stations and air times. Xavier Meal's article on the National Air Tour just came out in the December issue of La Fana De L'Aviation. It's a full 10-pages with outstanding photos from the tour. Bob Newhouse's Bird is a two-page spread! This piece follows a very nice full-page story about the NAT in the November issue of La Fana. Skyways will publish their story about the NAT in their January issue. They sent a lot of their stringers out to the various stops and were thrilled with the endeavor. |
The “Spirit of Igor” has completed participating in the National Air Tour. The main web site is www.nationalairtour.org. The Sikorsky S-39 “Spirit of Africa” Sikorsky Archives An interesting Russian site on the S-39. Brush up on your Cyrillic. National Air Tour Aircraft Info Article from National Air Tour about Dick Air-to-Air Magazine article Landings.com article Ossipee Aviation's S-39 pics Ypsilanti Courier Article |
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