A.19 Cloud | |
---|---|
![]() | |
A Saro Cloud of the Royal Air Force | |
Role | Flying boat |
Manufacturer | Saunders-Roe |
First flight | 15 July 1930 |
Primary user | Royal Air Force |
Number built | 22 |
The Saro Cloud was a British passenger amphibian flying boat designed and built by Saunders-Roe as the A.19. It was later produced as the A.29 [1] for the Royal Air Force for pilot and navigator training.
Following the success of the A.17 Cutty Sark, the company designed an enlarged version designated the A.19 Cloud. It had room for a crew of two and eight passengers. Like the Cutty Sark, it was a twin-engined monoplane flying boat with the engines mounted above the wing. This facilitated the use of different engines, and four aircraft were sold to private operators with a variety of engines.
First flown on 15 July 1930, the prototype was fitted with two 300 hp (224 kW) Wright J-6 radial engines.
The Air Ministry ordered one aircraft for evaluation as a trainer, powered by a pair of Armstrong Siddely Double Mongoose radial engines. After evaluation, the Air Ministry ordered a total of sixteen aircraft (in three batches) to Air Ministry Specification 15/32for pilot and navigator training. Designated the A.29, it had room for six students. It had provision for gun mountings in the bow and aft compartments, and could also carry four 50 lb practice bombs.
The first production A.29 Cloud was delivered to the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment for test and evaluation. Following modifications to the hull and steps, the aircraft was delivered to the Seaplane Training Squadron at RAF Calshot in August 1933. During its career, the Cloud served as training aircraft for both pilots, destined to train on larger flying boats after graduating from the Cloud before being assigned to frontline RAF flying boat units, and for navigators, as the cabin was large enough to house several map tables. The final Cloud was delivered to the RAF in 1935, and after a few years' service as trainers, the last operational aircraft were withdrawn from service in July 1939. [2]
Private individuals in Canada and the United Kingdom and the following commercial operators:
Data fromThe Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing. p. 2879.
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
On 31 July 1936 G-ABXW was lost during a flight between Guernsey and Jersey. All ten on board were killed.
Related lists