RNAS. When built it was the largest successful aircraft that had been constructed in Britain.[1]
It was also known as the Short Nile Pusher Biplane Seaplane.
Development
Realising that operation in the hot climate of Egypt would require an aircraft with a low
wing-loading, McClean got Shorts to modify one of his Short S.27 biplanes by fitting it with extended wings. This proved underpowered, and Shorts, therefore, constructed a new aircraft for McClean, using a 160 hp (120 kW) Gnome Double Lambda two-row rotary engine.[2]
Of similar configuration to the modified S.27, the S.80 was an unequal-span
elevator mounted on upswept outriggers, and the empennage
, consisting of a high-mounted tailplane and elevator with a pair of rudders mounted below, was carried on wire-braced wooden booms behind the wings. A pair of rectangular-section unstepped floats were mounted below the wing, supplemented by a pair of airbags mounted at the end of each lower tailboom.
Operational history
The S.80 was first flown by Gordon Bell on 2 October 1913, and on 19 November a weight carrying trial was made, in which it was flown with five passengers. It was then dismantled and shipped to Alexandria aboard the SS Corsican Prince.
The Nile Expedition
After reassembly at the Naval Dockyard in Alexandria, McClean,
Abu Hamed. On leaving Abu Hamed an oil-pump failed: a landing was made on the river and the aircraft was taxied to Shereyk, where the party waited until a spare pump could be sent. However, soon after leaving Shereyk both oil-pumps failed, and in the resulting emergency landing near Gananita Island a float and the tail-booms were damaged. A ten-day delay followed, and on 14 March they flew to Atbara: the next day Kabushia was reached, where a connecting rod broke, extensively damaging the engine, which was sent back to the railway workshops at Atbara. The repaired engine was fitted by 22 March, when the final stage to Khartoum was completed. After a day of giving joy-rides the aircraft was then dismantled and sent back to England.[4]
Subsequent history
On its return to England the S.80 was largely rebuilt, with new wings and tailbooms and a tailplane of reduced chord. The front elevator was deleted, and the nacelle was modified to a side-by side two-seater layout with dual controls, the space formerly occupied by the other two seats now being used for the fuel tank.
On 1 August 1914 McClean flew the aircraft to the
Admiralty, where it was re-engined with a 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome Monosoupape driving a four-bladed propeller and fitted with a fixed fin, half above and half below the tailplane, and given Admiralty number 905. Since it was underpowered it could not take off from calm water in low wind conditions, and was used for taxiing practice by pilots converting from landplanes.[5]
Specifications
Data from Barnes 1967, p.70
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Capacity: 3
Length: 33 ft 9 in (10.29 m)
Wingspan: 67 ft (20 m)
Wing area: 540 sq ft (50 m2)
Empty weight: 2,200 lb (998 kg)
Gross weight: 3,600 lb (1,633 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Double Lambda 14-cylinder two-row air cooled rotary, 160 hp (120 kW)
