Sikorsky S-2

The B.I.S.I (or S-1) was rebuilt as the S-2, with a new centre section, revised tail surfaces and, most importantly, a 25hp Anzani mounted in a tractor instead of pusher configuration. On 3 June 1910, Sikorsky made a 12-second first flight of some 200 meters at a height of 1.5m. About fifty more straight-line flights followed, the best of them covering 600m in 42 seconds on 3 July. Next day, the S-2 stalled and crashed during an attempted circular flight. Sikorsky realized that having the engine at the front, where it could not break loose and crush the pilot in an accident, was a life-saving feature. The S-2 spanned 8m and weighed 260kg fully loaded. It was completely destroyed in the accident.