Sikorsky S-16

what is it?

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.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 8.4 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 120 km/htop speed
• size 676 kgmax take-off weight

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 111 years ago, in 1915.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1915-02-06

introduced

1916

retired

1923

status

retired

number built

—

role

fighter

origin

Russian Empire

makers

Russo-Balt

engines

1× Le Rhône 9J

crew

1

length

6.2 m

wingspan

8.4 m

height

2.8 m

max take-off weight

676 kg

top speed

120 km/h

range

—

ceiling

3,500 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.