Sikorsky S-20
| RBVZ S-XX | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | RBVZ (Russo-Baltic Wagon Works) |
| Designer | Igor Sikorsky |
| First flight | 1916 |
| Introduction | 1916 |
| Retired | 1920 |
| Primary user | Imperial Russian Air Service |
| Number built | 5 |
The Sikorsky S-20 (named after its designer) or RBVZ S-XX (named after its manufacturer) was a Russian single-bay unequal span two-seat biplane designed by Igor Sikorsky in 1916. Displaying some Nieuport influence, it saw very little service during World War I.
Five S-XX aircraft were built in September 1916, with the first two powered by the 100 hp Gnome rotary engine which had powered its predecessor, the RBVZ S-XVI. However, the other three were powered with the 120 hp Le Rhone engine, with which they were allegedly faster than the French Nieuport 17.
Operational history[edit]
The S-XX saw little service because it was viewed as inferior to newer enemy aircraft, and no series production was undertaken. As such, only five aircraft were ever produced.
List of operators[edit]
Specifications[edit]
General characteristics
- Length: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 8.6 m (28 ft 3 in)
- Height: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 17 m2 (180 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 395 kg (871 lb)
- Gross weight: 570 kg (1,257 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Le Rhône Type 9Jb 9-cylinder air-cooled rotary piston engine, 89 kW (120 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 180 km/h (110 mph, 97 kn)
- Range: 390 km (240 mi, 210 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 5,600 m (18,400 ft)
- Time to altitude: 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 6 minutes 20 seconds
- Wing loading: 33.0 kg/m2 (6.8 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.21 hp/kg
Armament
- Guns: 1 x 7.7 mm Lavrov machine gun
References[edit]
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (March 2016) |
Bibliography[edit]
- William Green and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Colour Library Direct, Godalming, UK: 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.