Supermarine Sea Eagle

Manufacturer: Supermarine
Designed by: R. J. Mitchell
First flight: June 1923
Introduction: 25 September 1923
Retired: 1928
Primary user: British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd
Produced: 1923
Number built: 3

The Supermarine Sea Eagle was a British passenger-carrying flying boat designed and built by the Supermarine Aviation Works for its subsidiary, the British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd, to be used on their cross-channel route between Southampton and the Channel Islands and the Continent. Flying commenced on these routes on 25 September 1923, and they were the world's first scheduled passenger air service by flying boat.

Service

One Sea Eagle crashed in May 1924. A second Sea Eagle was lost when it rammed the harbor at St Peter Port, Guernsey, in January, 1927.

The last Sea Eagle was withdrawn from service in 1929.

Variants

The Supermarine Scarab was a military flying-boat, based upon the Sea Eagle, built for the Spanish Naval Air Service for use in the bomber/reconnaissance role. It was fitted with a .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun and a bomb load of 1,000 lb 454 kg.

Operators

United Kingdom

British Marine Air Navigation Co Ltd
Imperial Airways

Specifications

Data from Supermarine Aircraft since 1914

General characteristics

Crew: 2 (pilot and mechanic)
Capacity: 6 passengers
Length: 37 ft 4 in (11.37 metres)
Wingspan: 46 ft (14.02 m)
Height: 15 ft 11 in (4.85 m)
Wing area: 620 ft² (57.6 m²)
Empty weight: 3,950 lb (1,791 kg)
Loaded weight: 6,050 lb (2,744 kg)
Powerplant: 1x— Rolls-Royce Eagle IX in pusher configuration, 360 hp (268 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 93 mph (81 kn, 150 km/h)
Range: 230 mi (200 nmi, 370 km)
Climb to 5,000 ft (1,525m): 19 min

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