In 1929 Igor Sikorsky patented a two seated amphibian airplane. He had left Russia at the time of the 1917 revolution, and had spent years in the United States teaching mathmatics before he finally got back into the airplane business. When he was in Russia he had designed and built many airplanes, including in 1913 a 4 engine giant, which had an 92 foot wingspan and a 9000 gross weight.
Hey Bob,
The EAA museum in Oshkosh has a superb replica/mockup you can sit in while a video is shown giving you the sense of what it was like exploring over the Brazilian jungle for carnauba palms with Johnson. It's detailed with replicas of the original wicker seats and mahogany door frames.
I've deeply wanted one of those planes ever since I got a 'ride' in that one.
Posted by: Ken Wheeler | January 13, 2008 at 10:15 AM