Supermarine Commercial Amphibian
Commercial Amphibian | |
---|---|
Role | Passenger flying boat |
Manufacturer | Supermarine |
Designer | R.J. Mitchell
|
First flight | September 1920 |
Retired | 1920 |
Status | destroyed |
Number built | 1 |
Developed from | Supermarine Channel |
Developed into |
The Supermarine Commercial Amphibian (originally named the Supermarine Amphibian, later designated N147 by the British
The Commercial Amphibian finished second in the competition, but was judged the best of the three entrants in terms of design and reliability, and as a result the prize money of £4,000 (equivalent to £159,400 in 2019)[1] was doubled. In October 1920 it crashed and was damaged beyond repair, and no more Commercial Amphibians were built, but on the strength of the performance of the aircraft during the competition, Supermarine was commissioned to make a prototype three-seater Fleet Spotter Amphibian, later named the Supermarine Seal II.
Background
In April 1920, the British
Design
Mitchell based his design for the Amphibian on Supermarine's Channel flying boat, itself a modified version of the AD Flying Boat. A reconnaissance and patrol aeroplane that was produced at the end of World War I, the AD Flying Boat never saw action during the war.[4]
The Amphibian was a
The Amphibian's pilot was accommodated in an open cockpit just forward of the wings, with space for two passengers in an enclosed cabin further forward. There was a tiller for the pilot to use when the aircraft was on the water, so that it could more easily be navigated through narrow waters.[4][5]
Operational history
The Air Ministry competition was held during September 1920 at the experimental Royal Air Force stations at Martlesham Heath and Felixstowe. The Supermarine Amphibian (given the registration G-EAVE) was piloted by Herbert Hoare.[6][7] it competed against two other seaplanes, a Vickers Viking, and a Fairey III.[8][9] Two other seaplanes failed to arrive for the competition.[10]
Because of its larger weight and slower speed in comparison with its two competitors, the Supermarine Amphibian performed poorly in the air, but it was judged to be the competition's best constructed and most reliable aircraft. It was the only entrant to complete all the tests, and throughout the competition there was never any need to adjust the aircraft. The competition was won by the Vickers Viking, which gained the winner's prize of £10,000 (equivalent to £398,500 in 2019)[1], and the Amphibian came second. The Amphibian's consolation prize of £4,000 was doubled to £8,000 (equivalent to £318,800 in 2019)[1] by the Air Ministry, which judged Mitchell's design to be excellent and the aircraft to have performed well, considering that it had the lowest powered engine of the three competitors.[7][11]
The Commercial Amphibian crashed a month after the competition,[12] when on 13 October 1920, after departing from Southampton, it was involved in an accident at Great Bookham, Surrey. It was damaged beyond repair,[13] and no other Amphibians were produced.[7]
Legacy
After the competition, the Air Ministry designated the Vickers Viking as N146, and the Supermarine Amphibian as N147.
Specifications
Data from Supermarine Aircraft since 1914.[18]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 2 passengers
- Length: 32 ft 6 in (9.91 m)
- Upper wingspan: 50 ft (15 m)
- Lower wingspan: 47 ft (14 m)
- Height: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
- Wing area: 600 sq ft (56 m2)
- Empty weight: 3,996 lb (1,813 kg)
- Gross weight: 5,700 lb (2,585 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Eagle VIIIV-12 water-cooled piston engine, 350 hp (260 kW)
- Propellers: 4-bladed wooden fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 94 mph (151 km/h, 82 kn)
- Cruise speed: 80 mph (130 km/h, 70 kn)
- Alighting speed: 55 mph (48 kn; 89 km/h)
- Range: 312 mi (502 km, 271 nmi)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- ^ Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth "consistent series" supplied in Thomas, Ryland; Williamson, Samuel H. (2018). "What Was the U.K. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ a b Andrews & Morgan 1981, p. 41.
- ^ Pegram 2016, pp. 29–30.
- ^ a b c d Pegram 2016, p. 29.
- ^ a b Andrews & Morgan 1981, pp. 42–43.
- ^ "Type: Supermarine Amphibian (G-EAVE). Location: Bookham. Report No: C35". The National Archives. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ a b c Pegram 2016, p. 30.
- ^ Jackson 1973, p. 312.
- ^ Andrews & Morgan 1981, pp. 42, 44–45.
- ^ Andrews & Morgan 1981, p. 42.
- ^ Andrews & Morgan 1981, p. 44.
- ^ Andrews & Morgan 1981, pp. 44–45.
- ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 233483". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ Andrews & Morgan 1981, p. 68.
- ^ a b Pegram 2016, p. 32.
- ^ Andrews & Morgan 1981, pp. 147, 360.
- ^ Pegram 2016, p. 31.
- ^ Andrews & Morgan 1981, p. 45.
Sources
- Andrews, Charles Ferdinand; Morgan, Eric B. (1981). Supermarine Aircraft since 1914. London: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-370-10018-0.
- Jackson, Aubrey Joseph (1973). British Civil Aircraft Since 1919. London: Putnam. ISBN 978-08517-7-813-6.
- Pegram, Ralph (2016). Beyond the Spitfire: The Unseen Designs of R.J. Mitchell. Pegram: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-6515-6.
Further reading
- "The Supermarine Amphibian, 360 h.p. Rolls-Royce "Eagle"". Flight. 23 September 1920. pp. 1016–1019.
- "Amphibian Undercarriages from Martlesham". Supplement to The Aeroplane. 6 October 1920. pp. 613–614 – via The Internet Archive.