Supermarine Scapa

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Scapa
Supermarine Scapa.jpg
A Supermarine Scapa at the MAEE at Felixstowe, in 1933
RoleReconnaissance flying boat,
National originUnited Kingdom
Manufacturer Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers), Ltd.
Designer R.J. Mitchell
First flight 1932
Introduction 1935
Retired 1939
Primary user Royal Air Force
Number built15
Developed from Supermarine Southampton
Developed into Supermarine Stranraer

The Supermarine Scapa was a British general reconnaissance flying boat built by Supermarine that was used by the Royal Air Force between 1935 and 1939. It was developed from the Southampton and formed the basis of the Supermarine Stranraer.

Contents

Development

After experimenting with a three-engine design of flying boat, the Nanok, Supermarine's chief designer R. J. Mitchell decided that the hydrodynamic design developed in the twin-engined Supermarine Southampton, would be suitable for the next aircraft.

A prototype, designated the Southampton IV, was built. It had a hull that exceeded expectations in tests. An Air Ministry Specification was received in November 1931. The test pilot Joseph "Mutt" Summers took first flew the prototype on 8 July, 1932, by which time the name of the type had been changed to Scapa.

After 15 Scapas were built, production was changed to a more powerful development, the Supermarine Stranraer.

Design

Cut-away illustration of the Scarpa from Flight magazine (June 1935) Flight International Magazine 1935-06-27-pdf 0075.jpg
Cut-away illustration of the Scarpa from Flight magazine (June 1935)

The Scapa's hull was an all-metal structure, while the wing and tail surfaces had metal structure with fabric covering. The two Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 engines were mounted in nacelles underslung from the upper wing, and there were two fins, each placed at the mid semi-span of the tailplane. Similar to the Southampton, there were three gun positions: one in the nose, and two staggered in the rear fuselage. Each provided with a single .303 British (7.7 mm) caliber Lewis Mk.I machine guns.

Operators

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Specifications (Scapa)

Supermarine Scapa 3-view drawing from NACA-AC-203 Supermarine Scapa 3-view NACA-AC-203.png
Supermarine Scapa 3-view drawing from NACA-AC-203

Data from Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914 [1]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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