Sikorsky S-38B Amphibian NC158H Original Vintage Photo, Twin Wasp Flying Boat For Sale

Sikorsky S-38B Amphibian NC158H Original Vintage Photo
Twin Wasp Flying Boat
Pan Am-Class Flying Boat, Construction No. 114-18DESCRIPTIONHere is an original vintage photograph of a Sikorsky S-38B amphibian, registration NC158H, resting on its wheeled beaching gear in front of a hangar.The S-38 was the aircraft that built Pan American Airways' original route network across the Caribbean and Central America, and it earned the nickname "the flying forest" from Charles Lindbergh, who flew the type on proving flights between Miami, Panama, and Rio de Janeiro. Martin and Osa Johnson later used a sister S-38 as their camera ship on African safari expeditions.NC158H itself carries construction number 114-18, part of the S-38B production block registered NC158H through NC160H, a ten-place variant of which 80 were built out of 101 total S-38s produced.The photo captures the aircraft's twin Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engines mounted in push-pull configuration above the hull, the boat-shaped fuselage, and the twin tail booms characteristic of the type. A portion of the hangar signage is visible behind the aircraft, reading "...Air Servi..." and "Flying..." though the operator's full name is cropped from the frame.A period automobile is parked at the edge of the ramp in the foreground, helping place the image in the early to mid 1930s.The reverse carries period ink and pencil notations identifying the subject as "Sikorsky," "S-38," and "NC158H," along with an archive catalog number, "A.24060," and the faint reversed watermark of the Kodak photographic paper stock it was printed on.This is a real, identifiable airframe from Sikorsky's original 1928 to 1929 production run, not a generic or reproduction print.Every effort is made for fact checking and provenance including background research through news and historical archives. If any listing is incorrect in any way and you're unsatisfied with the item, please connect with me and I'll make it right. Orders placed before Noon CDT will ship same day Ground Advantage with tracking so you know exactly when it will arrive.Returns accepted on all items exceeding $25 in cost. Rigid, professional packaging on all shipments sealed and protected in acid free protectors. Shipping is free and already built into the price, so the BIN price is exactly what you pay, no surprise shipping costs at checkout.CONDITIONThis is an original period photographic print, not a modern reproduction, measuring approximately 4.5 x 3.25 inches. The image is clean and well exposed with good contrast between the aircraft, hangar, and sky. There is light wear consistent with age and handling, including gentle corner softening. The reverse shows the Kodak photographic paper watermark along with period ink and pencil identification notes and an archive catalog number. No tears, heavy creasing, or emulsion loss are visible in the photographed areas.

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