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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0220.PDF
APRIL 17, 1924 t THE SHORT ALL-METAL LIGHT FLYING BOAT Two 696 c.c. Blackburne Engines IN many ways one of the most remarkable machines of modern times is the little all-metal flying boat now nearing completion at the Rochester works of Short Bros. To begin with, the machine is built entirely of metal (with the exception of the wing covering), and the material mainly used in the construction is duralumin. This, in itself, stamps the machine as being out of the ordinary, as this material has not hitherto been used to any great extent in the construc tion of aeroplanes. Its application to the construction of a flying boat hull is another innovation in the history of British aviation, and in the Short machine this metal is used both for the framework and for the covering of the hull. Then there is the fact that the machine under review is the first light seaplane to be built in this country, and probably in the world. Not only so, but the twin-engined arrangement familiar from, larger boats has been adopted, although the machine is a monoplane—yet another inno vation, at any rate in modern times. It will thus be seen " Silver Streak " was generally admired at the Show, and was recognised as marking a distinct step forward Inci dentally the machine was the first all-metal aeroplane to be designed and built in England. In modern times the " Silver Streak " has been followed by a later development, the Short " Springbok," in which many of the constructional features of the " Silver Streak " have been retained, while others, notably in the wing con struction, have been altered to meet Air Ministry require ments. From the foregoing it will be seen that Short Bros, have done a great deal of pioneer work in this particular form of construction, and it is gratifying to be able to record that the successes attained are being recognised by the Air Ministry, who have for some time been following closely the progress made, and who have now sanctioned the construc tion of further machines incorporating the special form of metal construction evolved at Rochester. There is thus good !*• THE SHORT LIGHT FLYING BOAT : Two views of a scale model of the machine. These give a good idea of the general appearance and " clean " lines. that there is no lack of interest in the light flying boat which, through the courtesy of Short Bros., we were permitted to examine recently, and which forms the subject of the present article Before commencing a description of the Short all-metal light flying boat, it will be as well to recall briefly the stages in the development which preceded the construction of the present machine. To begin with, it will be remembered that Short Bros, constructed rigid airships during the War, and that they, therefore, have had considerable experience in duralumin construction. Then, at the Aero Sh»w at Olympia in 1920, they exhibited a biplane two-seater with Siddeley " Puma" engine. This machine, the " Silver Streak," was built entirely of metal, mainly of duralumin, but with steel tube wing spars. Even the wing covering was of duralumin, applied in a very ingenious fashion evolved and patented by Short Bros. The fuselage construction was of simple form, and a feature of it was that the sheet duralumin covering was made to take its shaie of the stresses set up in the structure. Briefly the principle employed was that the shape, or rather cross-section, of the fuselage was provided by the formers, to which the covering was riveted. The cause to think that in this matter of duralumin construction this country will soon take a leading place, as it has already done in steel construction, and that the pioneer work done by Short Bros, will reap the reward it deserves In the meantime the light flying boat which forms the subject of this article should serve as a very good full-scale experiment into the possibilities of the low-power seaplane, as well as demonstrating the merits of the particular form of construction adopted. The way in which this machine came to be built is rather interesting, and a brief reference to its inception may be made here. Two or three years ago a wealthy Australian, Mr. Lebbeus Hordern, purchased from Short Bros, a converted " F.5 " flying boat with two Rolls- Royce " Eagle" engines. This machine, photographs of which are published elsewhere in this issue of FLIGHT, was provided with a roomy cabin in which passengers could travel in comfort, and we understand that the machine gave excellent results, and was used quite a good deal out in Australia. Having become interested in the light 'plane type of machine, but desiring a seaplane, and more particularly a flying boat, Mr. Hordern asked Short Bros, if they could supply a twin- engined light 'plane flying boat. Mr. Oswald Short cabled 220
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