Johnson Wax Carnauba S-38 Headed to Oshkosh
A special airplane
built in the 1990s to help a son retrace his father's path made in
the 1930s will be on display throughout the week of EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh 2004, July 27-August 2 at AeroShell Square. The Johnson Wax
Carnauba is a replica of the Sikorsky S-38, designed in the late
1920s and was used by Herbert F. Johnson on his expedition to
Brazil in search of a reliable source of Carnauba palms, a key
ingredient of the family products. The replica was commissioned by
the late Sam Johnson to recreate his dad's epic 1935 flight. Sam,
who passed away recently, made a wonderful documentary, "Carnauba:
A Son's Memoir," detailing the building of the amphibious airplane
and recreating his father's flight.
The Carnauba replica project originated during a conversation
between Sam Johnson and the late R.W. "Buzz" Kaplan, both EAA
President's Council members. The two were trading Cessna Caravan
stories during the fall 1994 Board meetings in Oshkosh. After Buzz,
owner of an aircraft restoration company, Born Again Restorations,
talked about his trip to Siberia with his Caravan, Sam mentioned he
was planning a trip to Brazil with his, following the same route as
his father nearly 60 years earlier.
Vintage Aircraft Association Editor H.G. Frautschy, who authored
an extensive feature article about the Carnauba S-38 in the
November 1998 issue of Sport Aviation, wrote Kaplan's account of
what happened next:
"I said, 'Sam, you don't want do that!"
"He looked at me somewhat startled and said, 'I don't?'"
"No, if you're going to make that trip you ought to do it in the
same airplane your father flew."
"'There aren't any left.'"
"Well, then you have to make one."
"'Could that be done?'"
"Certainly."
"'Who would do that?'"
"I would."
From that simple exchange, plans were made to re-create the
Johnson Wax Sikorsky S-38 "Carnauba."
Actually two were built, the other the Zebra-schemed aircraft
"Osa's Ark" that has appeared at several recent EAA AirVenture
fly-ins.
The airplane has a wingspan of 71 feet, eight inches, measures
45 feet long and weighs more than 6,800 pounds. Power comes from
two 415-hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp engines, and its maximum cruise
speed of about 125 mph.
The EAA AirVenture Museum has a special Carnauba exhibit that
includes a cross-section of the airplane and a looping video
showing highlights of the film.
When Sam Johnson passed away in May this year, much was written
and said about the love he had for aviation and his S-38. The
aircraft honored the memorial service with a series of fly-bys.
The airplane is scheduled to arrive Tuesday morning, July 27, at
about 0900.