Silver Streak | |
---|---|
Role | Experimental all-metal biplane |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Short Brothers |
First flight | August 20, 1920 |
Number built | 1 |
The Short Silver Streak was the first British all-metal aircraft. [1] It was designed and built by Short Brothers at Rochester, Kent, England. [1] Although Flight magazine claimed that it was the first instance of stressed skin construction in the world, [2] it was preceded by a number of Dornier designs, including the Dornier-Zeppelin D.I, which was ordered into production. [3] [4]
The Silver Streak was a single-seat biplane with a semi-monocoque duralumin fuselage and duralumin-covered wings. [1] The wing skin was not stressed. [5] The Silver Streak had a conventional landing gear and was powered by a 240 hp (180 kW) Siddeley Puma engine. [1] The Silver Streak was exhibited in July 1920 at the Olympia in London. [1] Registered G-EARQ, it was first flown at Grain on 20 August 1920 by test pilot J. L. Parker. [1] It was later modified as a two-seater and delivered to the Air Ministry in February 1921 for both flight and static testing. [1] The Air Ministry issued a specification for a two-seat reconnaissance biplane and Shorts produced the Springbok based on the Silver Streak.
Data fromJackson. [1]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
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