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Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0158.PDF
MARCH 19. 1925 A SWEDISH RECONNAISSANCE TWIN-FLOAT SEAPLANE The Type S.II, with Rolls-Royce " Eagle " Engine THE fact that the S.II seaplane of the Svenska Aero A.-B. of Stockholm bears such a strong family resemblance to the famous Hansa-Brandenburg seaplanes of the war period is^explained when it is pointed out that the S.II, like the Hansa-Brandenburgers, was designed by Herr Ernst Heinkel, who was once upon a. time chief designer to the latter company, formers, and three-ply covering. In front the fuselage proper terminates in a transverse fireproof bulkhead which separates the wood construction from the all-metal engine mounting, thus reducing fire risk. The pilot occupies the front cockpit, whence his view in all directions, except down- wards, is of course excellent, owing to the low placing of the Side view of the " S.II." and who has now established his own factory at "Warnemiinde. TheJSvenska Aero Aktie Bolaget of Stockholm builds Hein- kel machines under licence. Of the same general lines as the original Hansa-Branden- burg seaplanes, the Swedish S.II differs from the prototype mainly in having a larger wing area, and, consequently, lighter loading, and in floats of larger capacity than those of the German machine. The result has been to improve not only the performance as regards get-off and climb, but also the seaworthiness of the machine, and the S.II is now considered to be a useful open-sea reconnaissance type, and is extensively employed by the Swedish air services. As a type, the machine is of the low-wing, semi-cantilever mono- plane form, and it possesses the feature of a raised tail which gives the rear gunner a better field of fire. The flat-sided, flat-bottomed fuselage is of wood con- struction, with four longerons, transverse bulkheads and wing. It will be seen that from the cockpit it is possible to see the noses of the floats, so that presumably taking off and alighting presents no particular difficulties. The gunner's cockpit is aft of and very close to the pilot's, so that comrmmi- cation is facilitated. Like the pilot, the gunner has a very unrestricted view and field of fire, and he can even look down vertically, as the trailing edge of the wings is cut away near the fuselage. The gunner's cockpit is very roomy, and contains in addition to the usual guns and amnunition. wireless equipment and a 50 cm. camera built into the fuselage to take vertical views. As already mentioned, the engine mounting is in the form of steel tubes, and forms a complete unit, attached by four conical bolts to corresponding fittings at the corners of the fireproof bulkhead. The installation is so arranged that the whole engine unit can be removed and replaced in a very short time, while for engine-test purposes, the unit can be Nose of the " S.II," showing• tubular mounting of the Rolls-Royce " Eagle " engine. 158
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