Supermarine Sea Lion II

Manufacturer: Supermarine Aviation Works
First flight: 1922
Number built: 1

The Supermarine Sea Lion II was a British racing flying boat designed and built by the Supermarine Aviation Works for the 1922 Schneider Trophy at Naples, Italy which it went on to win. The earlier racing flying boat for the 1919 Schneider Trophy the Sea Lion I was a different design.

Development

In need for a contender for the 1922 Schneider Trophy race, Supermarine developed a racing flying boat as a modification of their Sea King II fighter. The Sea King was a single-seat biplane amphibian powered by a 300 hp (224 kW) Hispano Suiza engine in pusher configuration that had first flown in 1921. Modified as a flying boat with a 450 hp (336 kW) Napier Lion engine, G-EBAH was entered into the 1922 race. Flown by Henri Baird, it won the race at an average speed of 145.7 mph (234.48 km/h).

For the 1923 Schneider Race to be held at Cowes, England, the aircraft was re-engined with a 550 hp (410 kW) Napier Lion and redesignated Sea Lion III. The aircraft only managed third place behind the American Curtiss CR-3 seaplanes. The aircraft was transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1923.

Operators

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force
Supermarine Aviation Works

Specifications (Sea Lion II)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 24 ft 9 in (7.55 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.76 m)
Wing area: 384 ft² (35.7 m²)
Empty weight: 2,115 lb (961 kg)
Gross weight: 2,850 lb (1,295 kg)
Powerplant: 1 x— Napier Lion, 450 hp (336 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 160 mph (258 km/h)
Endurance: 3 hours 0 min

Schneider Trophy

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 IIILondon:Putnam, London, 1988. ISBN 0 85177 818 6.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2992
British Aircraft Directory

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia