Supermarine Scapa
The Supermarine Scapa was a British flying boat for reconnaissance purposes. Built by the company Supermarine flying boat was used 1935-1939 in the Royal Air Force. It was a development of the Supermarine Southampton and formed the basis for the later development of the Supermarine Stranraer.
Development
After the chief designer of Supermarine, RJ Mitchell, had already experimented with some three -engined flying boats such as the Supermarine Nanook of the Solent and Southampton X, he decided to use the good hydrodynamic design of the twin-engined Southampton as a starting point for a new aircraft.
Under the name of Southampton IV, a prototype was built. In experiments in a water tank whose lower torso showed better performances. In November 1931, the Air Ministry produced a corresponding alert. Test Pilot " Mutt" Summers completed on 8 July 1932 First flight with this airplane. Subsequently, the name of the aircraft was changed to " Scapa ".
After the construction of 15 Scapa flying boats, production was switched to the more powerful Stanraer.
Construction
The Scapa had a metal hull. Wings and tail consisted of a fabric-covered metal mesh construction respectively. The engines were housed in nacelles below the upper wing. The aircraft had a double fin, which was attached in each case in the center of the horizontal stabilizer. As with the Southampton was also made in the Scapa three defensive stands, a forward in the bow and two more on top of the fuselage.
Operator
- United Kingdom United Kingdom No. 202 Squadron RAF
- No. 204 Squadron RAF
- No. 228 Squadron RAF
- No. 240 Squadron RAF