FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1942
1942 - 2054.PDF
•« FLIGHT i Sixteenth of the New Recognition Series AIRCRAFT TYPES AND V . Sunderland and Catallna is notable for the depth of its massive hull and its tall symmetrical single fin and rudder. From the head-on view, the hull appears narrow in relation to its depth, while the thickness of its wing section dwarfs the apparent diameter of its engines. The high cantilever wing, which has fixed stabilising floats just outboard of the outer engines, is of high aspect-ratio and tapers uniformly to almost pointed tips. Structurally it comprises a single box spar built up of four extruded " T " sections which form the corners of the box, braced in the lift bays by tubular struts and in the drag bays by built-up members. Leading and trailing edges are separate sections and the whole wing, except for the ailerons, is metal covered, including the Gouge flaps. The two-deck hull is built up of channel-section frames interconnected by "Z" section stiffeners, and the Alclad metal sheeting is laid on longitudinally with countersunk riveting. The bomb compartment is within the hull but the racks with their release gear extend into the wing. Armament comprises two power-operated gun turrets in nose and tail and two guns on pillar mountings amidships. * ADEVELOPMENT of the Empire " C" class commer cial flying boat, the Short Sunderland was first • delivered to Coastal Command late in 1938, and has been outstandingly successful on anti-submarine patrols and convoy escort. Having been originally designed with a necessary eye on passenger accommodation and comfort at reasonable operating costs, the Sunderland's cruising speed is satisfactory at 178 m.p.h. and its top speed of 210 m.p.h. with four Bristol Pegasus XXII nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engines, each with a rated output of 840 h.p. at 2,250 r.p.m. at 4,000ft., compares quite favour ably with later types designed specifically for military purposes. As an adaptation of an excellent civil flying boat, at a time when large numbers of this type of aircraft were urgently needed, the Sunderland has proved invaluable and is still giving admirable service. Its normal range is 1,780 miles, but an overload range of 2,900 miles can.be obtained. Its ceiling is 20,500ft. One of the easiest aircraft to recognise, the Sunderland
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
