Short S.41
Short S.41 | |
---|---|
Role | Floatplane |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Short Brothers |
First flight | 2 April 1912 |
Introduction | 1912 |
Primary user | Royal Naval Air Service |
Number built | 3 (S.41, S.51 and S.52) |
Developed from | Short S.36 |
The Short S.41 was a British single-engined
Development and design
In 1912, the Short S.36 tractor biplane, built for Francis McClean, was loaned to the Royal Navy for use at its Naval Flying School. Impressed by the S.36, the Admiralty ordered two similar tractor biplanes, capable of operating on either wheels or floats, the smaller Short S.45, like the S.36, powered by a 70 hp (52 kW) Gnome Lambda, and the larger Short S.41 powered by a 14-cylinder, twin-row 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome double Omega rotary engine.[1]
The S.41 was an unequal-span
Following the operational flights made during 1912, S.41 was returned to the factory for an overhaul and the fitting of folding wings, which were hinged so that they folded back horizontally alongside the fuselage, reducing storage space required for stowage aboard ship. At this time it was given the RNAS number "10". In November 1913 it underwent further modifications, being used to perfect a development of the folding mechanism which allowed the wings to be unfolded from the cockpit: at the same time new wings, similar in pattern to those of the Short Admiralty Type 81 were fitted.
The folding wing mechanism for shipborne aircraft had been designed by Horace Short, and was the subject of a series of patents[4]
Operational history
The S.41 was flown successfully at the Fleet Review at Weymouth on 8 May, being based on the Battleship HMS Hibernia.[5] It was also used by Samson to carry out survey flights of potential sites for seaplane stations, which led to the establishment of the seaplane station at Felixstowe,[6] and for early trials with use of radio from aircraft.[5]
The success of the S.41 was such that two similar aircraft, constructor's numbers S.51 and S.52,
Like 10, they were used for trials of airborne radio, as well as carrying out tests of beaching gear.
Variants
A single aircraft, similar in design to the S.41 but slightly smaller, was built by Shorts and exhibited at the 1913 Aero Show at
Operators
Specifications (S.41 seaplane)
Data from Shorts Aircraft since 1900[13]
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 39 ft (12 m) as seaplane: length as landplane 36 ft 6 in (11.15 m)
- Wingspan: 50 ft (15 m)
- Height: 11 ft 9 in (3.58 m) [2]
- Wing area: 450 sq ft (42 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,100 lb (499 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,600 lb (726 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Double Omega 14-cylinder, two-row rotary engine, 100 hp (75 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn)
- Endurance: 5 hrs
See also
Related lists
Notes
- ^ Barnes 1967, pp. 79–80.
- ^ a b c Bruce 1957, pp. 472–473.
- ^ Barnes 1967, p.80.
- ^ Patents secured by Short Brothers including patents nos. 1792/13, 15727/13 and 28610/13, 5290/14, 20537/14 and 9276/15, see Barnes and James, pp. 92, 110
- ^ a b c Bruce Flight 14 December 1956, p. 923.
- ^ Barnes 1967, p.82.
- ^ Barnes 1989, pp. 529.
- ^ Barnes 1967, p.83.
- ^ Barnes 1967, pp. 88–89.
- ^ Barnes 1967, p. 97.
- ^ Flight 14 December 1956, p. 924.
- ^ Barnes 1967
- ^ Barnes 1967, p.87.
References
- Barnes, C.H. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London:Putnam, 1967.
- Bruce, J.M. "The Short Seaplanes:Historical Military Aircraft No. 14 Part I". Flight, 14 December 1956. pp. 921–926.
- Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914–18. London:Putnam, 1957.
External links
Media related to Short S.41 at Wikimedia Commons