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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 1842.PDF
234 FLIGHT Sea ©tteir Tivo Supermarine Types Which c Service and with t FROM its early beginnings in 1913 or so, the name Supermarine ha* been associated with the sea. Fly ing boats, either plain or amphibian, made the name famous. In the present war the firm has made an even greater name for itself with Mitchell's Spitfire, a fighter which has achieved world renown, and which has so far figured in the war news in no fewer than 30 different variations. That is not necessarily the limits of its adaptability and development, but it is all that has been announced so far. This week we are able to illustrate and describe two Supermarine types not previously disclosed, although neither can be regarded as new, both having been in ser vice for some considerable time. They are the Sea Otter Mark I and the Seafire Mark III. Both retain the con nection with the sea in that the Sea Otter is an amphibiau developed from the Walrus, which has done such wonder ful work in the Air/Sea Rescue Service, and the Seafire Mark III, a carrier-borne single-seater fighter developed from the Spitfire Mark Vc. Seafires IA, IB and II have been illustrated previously. The IA was developed from the Spitfire Mark VB with Rolls-Royce Merlin XLV engine, while the Mark IB, owed its origin to the Spitfire Figs. I and 2 show the S£$ jaaxia Seat Otter amphibian flying boa taking off and flying. The macbin Is a development of the famou Walrus, which has done sue) excellent work ;n the Ar-Sea Rcscix Service. The most obvious difference between the two is the " turning around " of the engine, convertini it into a tractor installation. The Sea Otter, Mark I, is shown in 3 and 4 resting on its land undercarriage with wings spread and folded. By substituting a tractor power unit, Supermarines have reverted to earlier practice of years ago, when the Seagull single-engined amphibian with wooden hull had this engine arrangement. Presumably eng:ne cooiing is improved by placing the Br'sto! Mercury XXX in front, a feature which is of importance when the machine has to taxy long d stances
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