Engineering:Supermarine Scapa

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Scapa
Supermarine Scapa.jpg
A Supermarine Scapa at the MAEE at Felixstowe, in 1933
Role Reconnaissance flying boat,
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers), Ltd.
Designer R.J. Mitchell
First flight 1932
Introduction 1935
Retired 1939
Primary user Royal Air Force
Number built 15
Developed from Supermarine Southampton
Developed into Supermarine Stranraer

The Supermarine Scapa was a British general reconnaissance flying boat built by Supermarine that was used by the Royal Air Force between 1935 and 1939. It was developed from the Southampton and formed the basis of the Supermarine Stranraer.

Development

After experimenting with a three-engine design of flying boat, the Nanok, Supermarine's chief designer R. J. Mitchell decided that the hydrodynamic design developed in the twin-engined Supermarine Southampton, would be suitable for the next aircraft.

A prototype, designated the Southampton IV, was built. It had a hull that exceeded expectations in tests. An Air Ministry Specification was received in November 1931. The test pilot Joseph "Mutt" Summers took first flew the prototype on 8 July, 1932, by which time the name of the type had been changed to Scapa.

After 15 Scapas were built, production was changed to a more powerful development, the Supermarine Stranraer.

Design

Cut-away illustration of the Scarpa from Flight magazine (June 1935)

The Scapa's hull was an all-metal structure, while the wing and tail surfaces had metal structure with fabric covering. The two Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 engines were mounted in nacelles underslung from the upper wing, and there were two fins, each placed at the mid semi-span of the tailplane. Similar to the Southampton, there were three gun positions: one in the nose, and two staggered in the rear fuselage. Each provided with a single .303 British (7.7 mm) caliber Lewis Mk.I machine guns.

Operators

 United Kingdom
  • Royal Air Force
    • No. 202 Squadron RAF
    • No. 204 Squadron RAF
    • No. 228 Squadron RAF
    • No. 240 Squadron RAF

Specifications (Scapa)

Supermarine Scapa 3-view drawing from NACA-AC-203

Data from Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 5
  • Length: 53 ft 0 in (16.15 m) on beaching gear
  • Wingspan: 75 ft 0 in (22.86 m)
  • Height: 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m) on beaching gear
  • Wing area: 1,300 sq ft (120 m2)
  • Empty weight: 10,030 lb (4,550 kg)
  • Gross weight: 16,080 lb (7,294 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIIMS V-12 liquid-cooled piston engines, 525 hp (391 kW) each
  • Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed-pitch propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 142 mph (229 km/h, 123 kn) at 3,280 ft (1,000 m)
  • Cruise speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
  • Alighting speed: 64 mph (56 kn; 103 km/h)
  • Range: 1,000 mi (1,600 km, 870 nmi) with 2,650 lb (1,202 kg) military load
  • Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4,700 m)
  • Rate of climb: 625 ft/min (3.18 m/s)
  • Time to altitude: 9,840 ft (2,999 m) in 20 minutes
  • Wing loading: 12.3 lb/sq ft (60 kg/m2)

Armament

  • Guns: 3 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns, one in bow and two amidships
  • Bombs: 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombload under the wings

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Sources

Further reading