Supermarine Sheldrake

The Supermarine Sheldrake was a British amphibian biplane flying boat developed by Supermarine from the Supermarine Seagull with a revised hull.^[1] It was powered by a Napier Lion engine mounted between the wings driving a four-bladed propeller.^[1] Only one Sheldrake, serial number N180, was built.^[2]

Sheldrake
Role	Amphibian biplane flying boat
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Supermarine
Designer	R.J. Mitchell
First flight	1927
Produced	1923
Number built	1
Developed from	Supermarine Seagull

Specifications (Sheldrake N180)

Data from Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914.^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 37 ft 4.5 in (11.392 m)
• Wingspan: 46 ft (14 m)
• Height: 16 ft 2.5 in (4.940 m)
• Wing area: 593 sq ft (55.1 m²)
• Empty weight: 4,125 lb (1,871 kg)
• Gross weight: 6,100 lb (2,767 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Napier Lion V W-12 water-cooled piston engine, 450 hp (340 kW)
• Propellers: 4-bladed fixed pitch pusher propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 103 mph (166 km/h, 90 kn) at sea level
• Landing speed: 55 mph (48 kn; 89 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 85 mph (137 km/h, 74 kn)
• Range: 250 mi (400 km, 220 nmi)

Armament

• Guns: * 1x fixed forward-firing 0.303 in (7.70 mm) Vickers machine-gun
• 1x flexibly mounted 0.303 in (7.70 mm) Lewis machine-gun in the rear cockpit aft of the mainplanes
• Bombs: Up to 1,000 lb (450 kg) of bombs

See also

Related development

• Supermarine Seagull
• Supermarine Scarab

Related lists

• Seaplanes and flying boats

References

1. "Sires of the Swift". Flight. 2 October 1953. p. 473.
2. Robertson, Bruce (1987). British Military Aircraft Serials 1878-1987. Letchworth, England: Midland Counties Publications. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-904597-61-5.
3. Andrews, C.F.; Morgan, Eric B. (2003). Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914 (2nd Revised ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical. pp. 82–87.

Further reading

• "Hampshire Air Pageant". Flight. London: Royal Aero Club. 19 May 1927. pp. 305–308. Retrieved 1 March 2023 – via Internet Archive.