Supermarine Nanok

Manufacturer: Supermarine
First flight: 21 June 1927
Retired: 1934
Number built: 1
Developed from: Supermarine Southampton

The Supermarine Nanok was a British three-engined biplane flying boat built by Supermarine. Built to meet a Royal Danish Navy requirement, the single prototype was rebuilt as a private air yacht and renamed the Supermarine Solent.

Development and design

The Nanok (Inuit language: "Polar bear") was a three engined development of Supermarine's successful Southampton flying boat, designed to meet a Danish requirement for a torpedo carrying flying boat. A prototype was ordered on 17 June 1926, and the aircraft first flew on 21 June 1927. Testing was disappointing, and despite modifications the aircraft could not meet the specified performance and was rejected by the Danes.

The aircraft was therefore converted to a luxury 12-seat civil transport for the use of the Irish brewing magnate, Arthur Ernest Guinness, being renamed the Supermarine Solent.

Operational history

The Solent was certified as airworthy on 5 September 1928, and was used to fly frequently between England and the owner's home near Lough Corrib in County Galway, Ireland. It remained in use until it was scrapped in 1934.

Specifications (Nanok)

Data from Supermarine Aircraft since 1914

General characteristics

Crew: Five
Length: 50 ft 6 in (15.40 m)
Wingspan: 75 ft 0 in (22.86 m)
Height: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
Wing area: 1,572 ft² (146 m²)
Empty weight: 10,619 lb (4,817 kg)
Loaded weight: 16,311 lb (7,399 kg)
Powerplant: 3x— Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV 14-cylinder air cooled radial engine, 430 hp (321 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 99 kn (113.5 mph, 183 km/h) at sea level
Stall speed: 56 kn (64 mph, 103 km/h)
Range: 557 nmi (640 mi, 1,030 km) Reconnaissance
Service ceiling: 10,920 ft (3,328 m)
Rate of climb: 607 ft/min (3.1 m/s)
Wing loading: 10.4 lb/ft² (50.7 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.079 hp/lb (130 W/kg)

Armament

Guns: 2 x— .303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns (one in bow and one amidships)
Bombs: 2 x— 1,534 lb (700 kg) torpedoes

Related development

Supermarine Southampton

Andrews, C.F. and Morgan, E.B. Supermarine Aircraft since 1914. London:Putnam, 1987. ISBN 0 85177 800 3.
Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972:Volume III. London:Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0 85177 818 6.

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia