Supermarine Seagull (1948)

Last updated

Type 381 Seagull
Supermarine Seagull.jpg
The first Seagull prototype, PA143 (1948)
Role Air-sea rescue amphibian
Manufacturer Supermarine
First flight14 July 1948
Retired1952
StatusPrototypes only
Primary user Royal Navy
Number built2 (plus 1 uncompleted)

The Supermarine Seagull was a British amphibious, military flying boat and the last to be built by the Supermarine company. Design started during the Second World War but it did not fly until three years after the war had ended and the project was cancelled without it being adopted for service.

Contents

Development

In October 1940, the British Air Ministry issued Specification S.12/40 to Supermarine and Fairey for a catapult-launched, amphibian, reconnaissance and spotter aircraft to replace the Supermarine Walrus and Supermarine Sea Otter. [1] An order for three prototypes of Supermarine's aircraft was issued in March 1943. [1]

There was an interruption in design due to the necessity of moving the Supermarine design office, after the bombing of the facility at Woolston. Further delays were caused by the extensive wind tunnel testing that was needed and the change from a Rolls-Royce Merlin to the more powerful Rolls-Royce Griffon. Also, the design specification was changed in 1944 to a new requirement, S.14/44 (later S.14/44/2 [1] ) - the role of the aircraft being changed from ship-based reconnaissance and gunnery spotting to land-based Air-sea rescue. [2] This change removed the four-gun turret the design had featured. [3]

The first prototype - Seagull serial PA143 - first took off on 14 July 1948 from Southampton Water, flown by test pilot Mike Lithgow. [4] The second aircraft - PA147 - flew in September 1949, and was used for carrier trials on HMS Ark Royal later in that year, [4] during which it demonstrated the capability to carry five passengers. [5] Experiments were also carried out with rocket assisted take-offs. [6]

By the early 1950s, helicopters were taking over the air-sea rescue role. In 1952, the two completed prototypes and the partially built third aircraft, PA152, were scrapped. [6]

Design

The Seagull had an all-metal construction with a two spar parasol wing mounted on a pylon connecting it to the fuselage. The single engine, a Rolls-Royce Griffon drove contra-rotating propellers; radiators were mounted below the engine in the pylon. The rear of the pylon accommodated an observer's position with two windows. An eye bolt was fitted on the wing, behind the engine, so the aircraft could be easily lifted from the water by crane.

The wings were fitted with slotted flaps and full length leading edge slats and could be folded for compact, ship-board stowage. They also had a variable angle of incidence, pivoting at the front spar and actuated by an electrically driven jackscrew attached to the rear spar. This arrangement reduced stalling speed and increased lift, allowing the aircraft to use a smaller wing – compactness being an important feature for a ship-borne aircraft. [1]

Supermarine had tested this arrangement in the Type 322 and its capability was demonstrated when test pilot Mike Lithgow flew a Seagull at only 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). [4] In July 1950, a Seagull, flown by Les Colquhoun [7] competing in the Air League Cup Race gained the air-speed record for amphibian aircraft over a 100-kilometre (62 mi) course, by flying at an average speed of 241.9 miles per hour (389.3 km/h). [6]

The hull was a normal frame and longeron design with chines. The tailplane, carried on top of the fin, had a very large dihedral, with smaller fins mounted on its tips perpendicular to its surface. A third fin was later added to the centre after testing of the first prototype had revealed an instability in yaw. This was added to the second prototype while it was still being constructed.

The undercarriage retracted into bays on either side of the fuselage and could be easily removed, saving 180 kilograms (400 lb) of weight when the aircraft was operating as a pure flying-boat. [5] The Seagull was also fitted with an arrestor hook for carrier landings; mounting points for JATO rockets were located just above the wheel wells.

The crew normally consisted of three. [1] During air-sea rescue work, a Seagull would be able to accommodate a pilot, navigator and medic, plus up to seven survivors. [5]

Operators

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Specifications (Seagull ASR.1)

(performance - production aircraft estimated performance with Griffon 57 / RG30SM)

Data from Supermarine aircraft since 1914, [8] Dumbo and Seagull, [9]

General characteristics

Performance

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vickers Viking</span> Type of aircraft

The Vickers Viking was a British single-engine amphibious aircraft designed for military use shortly after World War I. Later versions of the aircraft were known as the Vickers Vulture and Vickers Vanellus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolls-Royce Griffon</span> 1930s British piston aircraft engine

The Rolls-Royce Griffon is a British 37-litre capacity, 60-degree V-12, liquid-cooled aero engine designed and built by Rolls-Royce Limited. In keeping with company convention, the Griffon was named after a bird of prey, in this case the griffon vulture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Spiteful</span> 1944 British fighter aircraft

The Supermarine Spiteful was a British Rolls-Royce Griffon–engined fighter aircraft designed by Supermarine to Air Ministry specification F.1/43 during the Second World War as a successor to the Spitfire. It had a new wing design to improve its critical Mach number, and allow safe operations at higher speeds. The new design also had a modern inwards-retracting undercarriage. Other changes included a larger fin to improve the somewhat marginal stability of Griffon Spitfires and changes to the mounting of the engine to tilt it down slightly for better visibility over the nose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine S.6B</span> 1930s British racing seaplane

The Supermarine S.6B is a British racing seaplane developed by R.J. Mitchell for the Supermarine company to take part in the Schneider Trophy competition of 1931. The S.6B marked the culmination of Mitchell's quest to "perfect the design of the racing seaplane" and represented the cutting edge of aerodynamic technology for the era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Seafang</span> 1940s British fighter aircraft

The Supermarine Seafang was a British Rolls-Royce Griffon–engined fighter aircraft designed by Supermarine to Air Ministry specification N.5/45. It was based on the Spiteful, which was a development of Supermarine's famous Spitfire aircraft. By that time the Spitfire was a 10-year-old design in a period of rapid technical development in aviation. The Seafang was outmoded by jet aircraft, and only 18 were built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Scapa</span> Type of aircraft

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Seagull (1921)</span> 1920s British flying boat

The Supermarine Seagull was a amphibian biplane flying boat designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Supermarine. It was developed from the experimental Supermarine Seal II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine S.6</span> Type of aircraft

The Supermarine S.6 is a 1920s British single-engined single-seat racing seaplane built by Supermarine. The S.6 continued the line of Supermarine seaplane racers that were designed for Schneider Trophy contests of the late 1920 and 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short Knuckleduster</span> Type of aircraft

The Short R.24/31 was a British twin-engined, high-wing cantilever gull winged monoplane flying-boat designed and built by Short to Air Ministry specification R.24/31 for a "General Purpose Open Sea Patrol Flying Boat". The contract also specified the use of the experimental Rolls-Royce Goshawk engine. The Saunders-Roe London and the Supermarine Stranraer competed successfully for this contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Type 224</span> British prototype fighter

The Supermarine Type 224 was an inverted gull-wing monoplane fighter aircraft designed by R.J. Mitchell at Supermarine in response to Air Ministry Specification F.7/30, which sought a fighter for introduction to succeed the Gloster Gauntlet. It was powered by the Rolls-Royce Goshawk engine, which used an experimental evaporative cooling system, and problems with this system, combined with its disappointing performance, led to it being rejected, a contract for production aircraft eventually going to the Gloster Gladiator. It is nevertheless notable because R.J. Mitchell learnt lessons from its failure that were to contribute greatly to his success with the Supermarine Spitfire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Type 322</span> Type of aircraft

The Supermarine Type 322 was a prototype British carrier-borne torpedo, dive bomber and reconnaissance aircraft of the Second World War. A single-engined monoplane, it was unsuccessful, with only two examples being built. The Fairey Barracuda, built to the same specification, would fill this role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Seamew</span> Type of aircraft

The Supermarine Seamew was a British twin engined amphibious aircraft built by Supermarine at their works in Woolston, Southampton. It was intended as a small, shipborne reconnaissance aircraft. It was designed in 1925–1927 by R. J. Mitchell to meet the Air Ministry's specification 29/24. It was the first aeroplane built by Supermarine to incorporate metal in the construction; two machines were built. Mitchell planned a civilian version of the aircraft, to accommodate up to six passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Swan</span> British commercial biplane flying boat

The Supermarine Swan was a 1920s British commercial biplane designed by R.J. Mitchell. A single machine was built by Supermarine at their works at Woolston, Southampton. The world's first twin-engine amphibian aircraft, it was the precursor to the Supermarine Southampton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Sea Eagle</span> 1920s British flying boat

The Supermarine Sea Eagle was a British, passenger–carrying, amphibious flying boat. It was designed and built by the Supermarine Aviation Works for its subsidiary, the British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd, to be used on their cross-channel route between Southampton, the Channel Islands and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Commercial Amphibian</span> 1920s British flying boat

The Supermarine Commercial Amphibian was a passenger-carrying flying boat. The first aircraft to be designed by Supermarine's Reginald Mitchell, it was built at the company's works at Woolston, Southampton, for an Air Ministry competition that took place during September 1920. Based on the Supermarine Channel, the Amphibian was a biplane flying boat with a single engine, a wooden hull, unequal wingspans and a 350 horsepower (260 kW) Rolls-Royce Eagle engine. The pilot sat in an open cockpit behind two passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Seal II</span> 1920s British flying boat

The Supermarine Seal II was a British flying boat developed by Supermarine after it secured a British Air Ministry order for a prototype three-seater fleet spotter amphibian. The prototype, which had to be capable of landing on Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft carriers, was designed by Supermarine's R.J. Mitchell, who incorporated suggestions made after the Supermarine Commercial Amphibian achieved second place after it was entered for an Air Ministry competition in 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Spitfire (Griffon-powered variants)</span> Griffon-powered variants of the Supermarine Spitfire

The Rolls-Royce Griffon engine was designed in answer to Royal Navy specifications for an engine capable of generating good power at low altitudes. Concepts for adapting the Spitfire to take the new engine had begun as far back as October 1939; Joseph Smith felt that "The good big 'un will eventually beat the good little 'un." and Ernest Hives of Rolls-Royce thought that the Griffon would be "a second power string for the Spitfire". The first of the Griffon-engined Spitfires flew on 27 November 1941.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De Havilland DH.27 Derby</span> Type of aircraft

The de Havilland DH.27 Derby was a large single-engined biplane designed to a heavy day bomber Air Ministry specification. It did not reach production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supermarine Sheldrake</span> 1920s British flying boat

The Supermarine Sheldrake was a British amphibian biplane flying boat developed by Supermarine from the Supermarine Seagull with a revised hull. It was powered by a Napier Lion engine mounted between the wings driving a four-bladed propeller. Only one Sheldrake, serial number N180, was built.

The Supermarine Type 179 "Giant" was a British monoplane flying boat developed by Supermarine but cancelled before completion.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 London 2003, p. 230.
  2. ↑ Gunston 1976, pp. 620–621.
  3. ↑ Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 170.
  4. 1 2 3 London 2003, p. 231.
  5. 1 2 3 Nico Braas (16 October 2009). "Vickers Supermarine Type 381 Seagull ASR-1". Let Let Let Warplanes. Retrieved 21 October 2009.ppJATO
  6. 1 2 3 London 2003, p. 232.
  7. ↑ "Here and There". Flight. Vol. LVIII, no. 2172. 10 August 1950. p. 104.
  8. ↑ Andrews, C.F.; Morgan, Eric B. (1981). Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914 (2nd ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical. pp. 167–172. ISBN   0370100182.
  9. ↑ Burnet and Morgan 1982, p.251.
  10. ↑ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography

  • Andrews, C.F. and Morgan, E.B. Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914. London: Putnam Books Ltd.,2nd revised edition 2003. ISBN   0-85177-800-3.
  • Burnett, Charles and Eric B. Morgan. "Dumbo and Seagull:Two Pairs of Variable Incidence Prototypes". Air International , November 1982, Vol. 23 No, 5. ISSN 0306-5634. pp. 237–243, 251.
  • Gunston, Bill. "Last of the Seagulls". Aeroplane Monthly , December 1976, Vol. 4, No. 12. pp. 620–625.
  • Kightly, James and Wallsgrove, Roger. Supermarine Walrus & Stranraer. Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2004. ISBN   83-917178-9-5.
  • London, Peter. British Flying Boats. Sutton Publishers Ltd. 2003. ISBN   0-7509-2695-3
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.