The S-37 was designed as a transatlantic aircraft for French ace René Fonck, following the crash of his even larger, three-engined S-35. The first S-37 airframe, NX1283, was built for Fonck, the second, as seen here, as a night bomber. Sikorsky teamed up with Consolidated at this time. The bomber was also known as the S-37B and was tested by the US Army with the test code (X)P-496, but rejected. In 1929 this machine was rebuilt as an airliner, becoming NC942M and NR942M - see other photos of this airframe by clicking on the constrution number link.

Both Sikorsky S-37 aircraft were operated by American International Airways, which was associated with NYRBA, the short-lived New York, Rio & Buenos Aires Line. Reportedly the other one operated in Argentina as R-1283 Southern Star. This airframe became NR942M, a seaplane that undertook a failed flight around the world - see other photos. Photo by: Gleason Waite Romer / Miami-Dade Public Library

Location given as Jamaica Bay - the S-37 must have been operating out of the Brooklyn Skyport, see other picture, or maybe Floyd Bennett Field while preparing for its failed flight around the world. Date of Arnold's photos given as 1933 or 1935 but both must be wrong. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

NR942M, see other picture, is seen here in New York in what was called the Brooklyn Skyport, at the Mill Basin. Brooklyn (B'klyn) Air Transport was described as a flying boat manufacturer and seems to have been defunct by 1934. Photo from: Dan Shumaker collection

Originally the last Sikorsky landplane, the S-37 was designed in 1927 for René Fonck to compete for the Orteig Prize, the prize Lindbergh won with his New York - Paris flight. This second example, the S-37-2, was built as a bomber for the USAAC, in association with Consolidated. Both S-37s saw airline service later on. Registered NR942M by 1934, the S-37-2 set out from Chicago on a flight around the world, captained by one William H Alexander. This was to improve relations between the USA and the USSR. It crashed in the North Atlantic, however, on 17 October 1934. Construction number also given as 1 or 4. Photo from: Flight