Short Sealand
Sealand | |
---|---|
Short Sealand prototype and demonstrator G-AIVX at RNAS Stretton on 25 July 1953 | |
Role | Amphibious Seaplane |
Manufacturer | Short Brothers |
Designer | C. T. P. Lipscomb |
First flight | 22 January 1948 |
Introduction | 31 December 1950 |
Primary users | Royal Dutch Shell
Yugoslav Air Force |
Number built | 25 |
The Short SA.6 Sealand was a light, commercial amphibious aircraft designed and produced by Short Brothers. It was sized to accommodate between five and seven passengers as well as to suit the general overseas market in territories with suitable water access and/or runways. It could take off from and land on rivers, lakes and sheltered bays or prepared runways, and could be flown by either a single pilot or a pilot and navigator.
On 22 January 1948, the maiden flight of the Sealand took place; the first examples entered service roughly two years later. A total of two production variants of the type were produced, the SA.6 Sealand I and the SB.7 Sealand III, an extended version with longer wings, a deeper rudder and a strengthened hull. The proposed SB.2 Sealand II was intended as the type's second prototype, but was never completed as such, instead becoming the first of the batch of 4 pre-production aircraft G-AKLM to G-AKLP.[1] The Sealand was flown by both civilian and military operators, the Indian Navy being a particularly prominent operator of the type. Its operational life including regular flights within various areas of the world, including Borneo, East Bengal, Norway and Venezuela.
Development
In the immediate aftermath of the
The compact SA.6 concept appeared to have considerable sales potential, being sized as to facilitate its use from inland lakes and other bodies of water.[3] During July 1946, the company announced its intention to produce the SA.6, assigning it the name Sealand, as a five-seven passenger commercial amphibious aircraft. Design work was divided between the company's Rochester and Belfast facilities, the former worked on the hull and tail unit while the latter focused on the wing and engine configuration.[4] The design drew greatly upon the larger Solent, but also incorporated the latest advances in structural design, including the use of draw-sunk stiffeners for the ribs and bulkheads. Additionally, the wing of the Sealand was given a higher aspect ratio than the Solent to improve both its rate of climb and efficiency in cruise flight.[4]
On 19 January 1948, the prototype Sealand was launched; it performed its
Design
The Short SA.6 Sealand was a high wing
The passenger cabin, which was sized to accommodate up to seven passengers, was effectively divided into two halves (connected via a
The Sealand was powered by a pair of de Havilland Gipsy Queen 70-3 inverted inline air cooled piston engines, each capable of generating up to 340 hp.[4] These engines were intentionally mounted as high as reasonably achievable on the wing so that sufficient clearance from spray would be provided, although this was reduced somewhat during trials in order to reduce drag. To ease water handling, reversible-pitch propellers were installed, which could be used to reduce the landing distance required; this arrangement was effective enough that a water rudder was deemed to be unnecessary.[5]
Operational history
In addition to the prototype, a total of four pre-production aircraft were produced, the first of which was retained by Shorts for demonstration purposes (eventually crashing in fog while on a sales tour of Norway, killing both the pilot and the sales representative).[6] The other three pre-production Sealands were eventually sold to overseas operators in Norway and Borneo. Early on in the type's career, it was determined that, while well suited for operating from sheltered waters and possessing largely favourable seaworthiness qualities, landing upon the open sea was challenging for Sealand pilots, leading to some modifications being made to improve its performance.[7]
As early as 1949, Shorts commenced vigorous sales efforts surrounding the Sealand; according to aviation author C. H. Barnes, demonstrations of the aircraft typically made good impressions on prospective customers.[8] A further batch of ten Sealands were built and sold to a variety of small operators, including one (G-AKLW, later SU-AHY) equipped as an "air yacht" with luxurious fittings for a private client in Egypt and given the name Nadia.[9] An early sale of a single Sealand to an American customer garnered the distinction of being the first post-war sale of an aircraft to the American market.[10]
During 1952, the Indian Navy ordered a batch of ten Sealands, which were built to an enhanced specification. Accordingly, these aircraft featured dual controls, increased fuel capacity and uprated engines. All ten aircraft were delivered between January and November 1953.
A second Sealand exists at the
A third, G-AKLW (originally bought by the wealthy Egyptian client mentioned above) is under rebuild (2008) at the
Shorts retained the first prototype (G-AIVX) for company use, often using it without the wing-floats and struts to increase its payload.[15] Seeing several years of use, it was ultimately scrapped after its Certificate of Airworthiness expired in April 1955.[16]
Variants
- SA.6 Sealand
- Prototype powered by two De Havilland Gipsy Queen 70-2 engines, one built
- SA.6 Sealand I
- Production variant with two De Havilland Gipsy Queen 70-3 engines, 14 built.
- SB.2 Sealand II
- Proposed variant with Alvis Leonides engines, not built
- SB.7 Sealand III
- Variant for operation in Norway with eight-passengers and the landing gear removed, two conversions.
- SA.6 Sealand
- Variant for India with De Havilland Gipsy Queen 70-4 engines, dual-controls and extra fuel tanks for six hours endurance, ten built.
Operators
Civilian operators
- Vestlandske Luftfartsselskap (VLS) – two aircraft modified as Srs 1M seaplanes with landing gear removed.
- Aero Nord Sweden
- Shell Oil
- Short Brothers
- Christian & Missionary Alliance
Military operators
- Indian Navy – ten Series 1L aircraft with Gipsy Queen 70-4 engines and dual controls, all delivered in 1953.
- Royal Saudi Air Force – one aircraft donated to the RSAF for search and rescue duties.
- JAT.
Specifications (Sealand I)
Data from Shorts Aircraft since 1900,[15] British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972[17]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Capacity: 5–7 passengers
- Length: 42 ft 2 in (12.85 m)
- Wingspan: 59 ft 0 in (17.98 m) [18]
- Height: 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m) [17]
- Wing area: 353 sq ft (32.8 m2) [19]
- Empty weight: 7,007 lb (3,178 kg)
- Gross weight: 9,100 lb (4,128 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × de Havilland Gipsy Queen 70-3 inverted inline air cooled piston, 340 hp (250 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 187 mph (301 km/h, 162 kn)
- Cruise speed: 175 mph (282 km/h, 152 kn) [17]
- Range: 660 mi (1,060 km, 570 nmi) [17]
- Endurance: 3.5 hr
- Service ceiling: 20,600 ft (6,300 m) [17]
- Rate of climb: 880 ft/min (4.5 m/s) [17]
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
Citations
- ^ Barnes & James 1989, p. 433.
- ^ a b Barnes 1967, p. 431.
- ^ Barnes 1967, pp. 431-432.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnes 1967, p. 432.
- ^ a b Barnes 1967, pp. 432-433.
- ^ a b c Barnes 1967, p. 433.
- ^ Barnes 1967, pp. 433-435.
- ^ Barnes 1967, pp. 433-434.
- ^ a b Barnes & James 1989, p. 436.
- ^ Barnes 1967, p. 434.
- ^ Barnes 1967, p. 437.
- ^ "War Birds of India". Indian Naval Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2007.
- ^ Lista Eksponata: Avioni
- ^ "Air Transport: Short Sealand". Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. Archived from the original on 11 February 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
- ^ a b Barnes & James 1989, p. 438.
- ^ Barnes 1967, p. 438.
- ^ a b c d e f Jackson 1988, p. 163.
- ^ Sealand III: 61 ft 6 in (18.75 m)
- ^ Sealand III: 359 sq ft (33.4 m2)
Bibliography
- Barnes, C.H. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1967.
- Barnes, C.H.; James, Derek N. (1989). Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.
- Jackson, A.J. (1988). British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972: Volume III. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-818-6.
- Marinkovic, V. "Short S.A.6 Sealand". V.Marinkovic. Retrieved 29 January 2007.
- Warner, Guy (July–August 2002). "From Bombay to Bombardier: Aircraft Production at Sydenham, Part One". ISSN 0143-5450.
External links
Media related to Short Sealand at Wikimedia Commons
- Orthographic drawings of the Sealand via fortunecity.com.[1]
- ^ "Short "Sealand"". Fortunecity. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2007.