In 1917, the British Admiralty released Specification N.2B for a long-range patrol seaplane to replace the Short Type 184 in Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) service. The Short Brothers' response to this specification, designated Short N.2B was a single-engined, unequal span biplane with two-bay folding wings. While Short's wanted to fit a Rolls-Royce Eagle engine, this was rejected by the Admiralty owing to an expected shortage of these engines, with the Sunbeam Maori substituted.[1]
Eight prototype Short N.2Bs were ordered together with competing aircraft from Fairey (the Fairey III). The first prototype flew in December 1917.[2] When it was tested at the Marine Experimental Aircraft Depot on the Isle of Grain in February 1918, it showed performance no better than the Short 184 with the same engine. While modification with a different propeller and attempts to reduce drag did improve performance, the Fairey III was preferred, being ordered into production in versions powered by both the Maori and Eagle engines, with only the first two prototype Short aircraft being built.[3]
In May 1919, Shorts modified the second prototype with an Eagle engine salvaged from the modified Short N.1B ShirlShamrock, which had crashed during an attempt to cross the Atlantic, the revised aircraft showing greatly improved climb rate but with speed only increased by 8 mph (13 km/h). The Maori was reinstated, and the second prototype delivered to the Royal Air Force in January 1920.[4]
Barnes, C.H. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London:Putnam, 1967.
Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.
Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914. London:Putnam, 1994. ISBN0-85177-861-5.
March 14, 2024
short, prototype, british, patrol, seaplane, first, world, designed, built, short, brothers, single, engined, biplane, intended, replace, short, successful, type, only, were, built, fairey, being, preferred, 2brole, reconnaissance, aircraftnational, origin, un. The Short N 2B was a prototype British patrol seaplane of the First World War designed and built by Short Brothers A single engined biplane intended to replace Short s successful Type 184 only two were built the Fairey III being preferred N 2BRole Reconnaissance aircraftNational origin United KingdomManufacturer Short BrothersFirst flight December 1917Number built 2 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Specifications Maori engine 3 See also 4 Footnotes 5 ReferencesDevelopment and design editIn 1917 the British Admiralty released Specification N 2B for a long range patrol seaplane to replace the Short Type 184 in Royal Naval Air Service RNAS service The Short Brothers response to this specification designated Short N 2B was a single engined unequal span biplane with two bay folding wings While Short s wanted to fit a Rolls Royce Eagle engine this was rejected by the Admiralty owing to an expected shortage of these engines with the Sunbeam Maori substituted 1 Eight prototype Short N 2Bs were ordered together with competing aircraft from Fairey the Fairey III The first prototype flew in December 1917 2 When it was tested at the Marine Experimental Aircraft Depot on the Isle of Grain in February 1918 it showed performance no better than the Short 184 with the same engine While modification with a different propeller and attempts to reduce drag did improve performance the Fairey III was preferred being ordered into production in versions powered by both the Maori and Eagle engines with only the first two prototype Short aircraft being built 3 In May 1919 Shorts modified the second prototype with an Eagle engine salvaged from the modified Short N 1B Shirl Shamrock which had crashed during an attempt to cross the Atlantic the revised aircraft showing greatly improved climb rate but with speed only increased by 8 mph 13 km h The Maori was reinstated and the second prototype delivered to the Royal Air Force in January 1920 4 Specifications Maori engine editData from British Aeroplanes 1914 18 5 General characteristicsCrew two Length 40 ft 2 in 12 24 m Wingspan 55 ft 2 in 16 81 m Height 13 ft 9 in 4 19 m Wing area 678 sq ft 63 0 m2 Empty weight 3 280 lb 1 488 kg Gross weight 4 911 lb 2 228 kg Fuel capacity 70 imp gal 84 US gal 320 L Powerplant 1 Sunbeam Maori water cooled V12 engine 275 hp 205 kW Performance Maximum speed 92 mph 148 km h 80 kn at sea level Endurance 4 5 hr Service ceiling 10 600 ft 3 200 m Time to altitude 4 min 50 s to 2 000 ft 610 m 40 min 35 s to 10 000 ft 3 050 m Armament Guns 1x 0 303 in 7 7 mm Lewis gun on scarff ring mount on rear cockpit Bombs 2x 230 lb 105 kg bombs under rear fuselageSee also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Fairey IIIRelated lists List of aircraft of the Royal Naval Air ServiceFootnotes edit Barnes 1967 p 138 Mason 1994 p 99 Barnes 1967 pp 138 139 Barnes 1967 pp 141 142 Bruce 1957 pp 505 506 References editBarnes C H Shorts Aircraft since 1900 London Putnam 1967 Bruce J M British Aeroplanes 1914 18 London Putnam 1957 Mason Francis K The British Bomber since 1914 London Putnam 1994 ISBN 0 85177 861 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Short N 2B amp oldid 1088812445, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
