Supermarine Sheldrake

The Supermarine Sheldrake was a British amphibian biplane flying boat developed by Supermarine from the Supermarine Seagull with a revised hull.

It was powered by a Napier Lion engine mounted between the wings driving a four-bladed propeller. 

Only one Sheldrake, serial number N180, was built.

Specifications

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

1 x 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