Supermarine S.5
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| Supermarine S.5 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Racing seaplane |
| Manufacturer | Supermarine |
| Designed by | Reginald Mitchell |
| Maiden flight | 1927 |
| Introduced | 1927 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force High Speed Flight |
| Number built | 3 |
The Supermarine S.5 was a 1920s British single-engined single-seat racing seaplane built by Supermarine.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Supermarine S.5 was designed by Reginald Mitchell for the 1927 Schneider Trophy. Following the earlier loss of the S.4 before the 1925 Schneider Trophy event Mitchell designed a new all-metal monoplane racer. Unlike the S.4, the S.5 had a low, braced wing, with wing surface radiators replacing the Lamblin type radiators of the S.4. Three aircraft were built, one with a direct drive 900 hp (671 kW) Napier Lion VIIA engine, and the other two with a geared 875 hp (652 kW) Napier Lion VIIB engine. The first aircraft flew for the first time on 7 June 1927. The S.5s came 1st and 2nd in the 1927 race held at Venice, the winning aircraft (Serial number N220) was flown by Flight Lieutenant S.N Webster at an average speed of 281.66 mph (453.28 km/h). [1]
Mitchell decided that the Napier engined aircraft had reached the limit and re-designed the aircraft with a new Rolls-Royce engine as the Supermarine S.6.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (N220)
Data from Supermarine Aircraft since 1914 [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 24 ft 3½ in (7.32 m)
- Wingspan: 26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
- Height: 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m)
- Wing area: 115 ft² (10.7 m²)
- Empty weight: 2,680 lb (1,215 kg)
- Loaded weight: 3,242 lb (1,470 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Napier Lion VIIA water cooled broad arrow, 900 hp (671 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 319.57 mph (514.3 km/h)
[edit] In popular culture
In the song "Bill Hosie" by Archie Fisher, the protagonist rebuilds an "S.5 Supermarine" that survived the 1927 Schneider Trophy Race. The plane, race, and trophy are referred to throughout the song.
[edit] See also
Related development
- Supermarine S.4 · S.6 · S.6B
Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ a b Andrews, C.N.; Morgan, E.B. (1987). Supermarine Aircraft since 1914, Second edition, London: Putnam, p. 174-203. ISBN 0 85177 800 3.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
[edit] External links
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