Supermarine Sea Lion II
Sea Lion II | |
---|---|
The Sea Lion II | |
Role | Racing flying-boat |
Manufacturer | Supermarine Aviation Works |
First flight | 1922 |
Number built | 1 |
The Supermarine Sea Lion II was a British racing flying boat designed and built by the Supermarine Aviation Works for the 1922 Schneider Trophy at Naples, Italy which it went on to win. The earlier racing flying boat for the 1919 Schneider Trophy the Sea Lion I was a different design.
Development
In need for a contender for the 1922 Schneider Trophy race, Supermarine developed a racing flying boat as a modification of their Sea King II fighter. The Sea King was a single-seat biplane amphibian powered by a 300 hp (224 kW) Hispano Suiza engine in pusher configuration that had first flown in 1921. Modified as a flying boat with a 450 hp (336 kW) Napier Lion engine, G-EBAH was entered into the 1922 race. Flown by Henri Biard, it won the race at an average speed of 145.7 mph (234.48 km/h).
For the 1923 Schneider Race to be held at Cowes, England, the aircraft was re-engined with a 550 hp (410 kW) Napier Lion and redesignated Sea Lion III. The aircraft only managed third place behind the American Curtiss CR-3 seaplanes. The aircraft was transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1923.
Operators
Specifications (Sea Lion II)
Data from Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914.[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 24 ft 9 in (7.54 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft (9.8 m)
- Wing area: 384 sq ft (35.7 m2)
- Empty weight: 2,115 lb (959 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,850 lb (1,293 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Napier Lion II W-12 water-cooled piston engine, 450 hp (340 kW)
- Propellers: 4-bladed fixed-pitch wooden pusher propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kn)
- Endurance: 3 hours
See also
Related lists
References
- ^ Andrews, C.F.; Morgan, Eric B. (2003). Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914 (2nd Revised ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical. pp. 56–68.
Further reading
- Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972:Volume IIILondon:Putnam, London, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-818-6.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2992
- Shelton, John (2008). Schneider Trophy to Spitfire – The Design Career of R.J. Mitchell (Hardback). Sparkford: Hayes Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84425-530-6.
External links
- Supermarine Sea Lion – British Aircraft Directory