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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2189.PDF
164 c FLIGHT The Seamew, at low level, displays the excellent visibility from the cockpit and the long droop of the unloaded oleo legs. SEAMEW PROGRESS Intensive Flight Tests and Pre-production Modifications THE Short Seamew light anti-submarine aircraft has been undergoing a series of intensive flight tests since its first flight in August 1953, and its appearance at tire S.B.A.C. Display shortly afterwards. Intended for operation from all types of carriers and from "hastily contriyjetl air strips," the Seamew has been designed for manoeuvrability, near-all-weather operation (hence its extensive de-icing gear), low landing speed, simplicity and lightness. j- The company claims that, in practice, the extremely low all-up weight target has been fully met with the ajr of a number of new structural techniques which, in their tujft, have necessitated an extensive test programme. Some of these tests were carried out before the first prototype flew, but a&econd airframe, com plete except for engine and equipment, was later built purely for structural tests, and mounted on M specially prepared "float ing" rig; that is, the airframe was without rigid attachment to a fixed base, and so mounted that dny of the various flight loads could be applied to every section rf the structure at the appropriate moments. The case of the pull-out from a dive to maximum g loading was carried to destruction, and failure is reported to have occurred precisely at the predicted load. The photographs on this page show a number of structural modifications, particular!/ in the tail unit and wing leading-edge. In order to provide theyoest possible control at speeds close to the stall, a "vented fillet''/has been incorporated at the tailplane/fin junction. The photograph shows that the tailplane thickness has been greatly increased at this point, and the intakes in the leading edge can be seenj4o be tilted slightly upwards. This configura tion replaces Jne inverted slots first fitted. A wide-chord slot can also be* seen mounted just outboard of the wing folding joints. The firfhce-like ribs extending to the wing under-skin prob ably serve asfa mounting for the slot, designed to avoid disturbing the wing d^-icing boot. Anothe/ interesting feature is the extensible tail-wheel. The oleo leg is in fact divided into two sections, the upper being a normal oleo, while the lower contains a dashpot which, when released, allows the tailwheel leg to extend fully. The Seamew lands with tailwheel fully extended, at a shallow angle of attack, (Left) Another view of the tail, showing arrester hook, rudder controls, and the up ward-facing intake of the vented fillet. (Right) Features to note in this ground view are the radome, starboard wing-slot, duplicated windshield wipers and tailwheel deck-wire deflector. /' The "vented fillet" and thick fin-root seen beyond one of the radio aerials. This replaces the inverted slots previously fitted. and, as the wheel touches down, the dashpot compresses slowly so that full compression is reached at the end of a normal carrier landing. A catch then engages automatically to maintain the tail-down position ready for take-off. No details of the Seamew's structure or equipment can yet be released, but it can be seen that the prototype has now been fitted with an "Adam's apple" radome just forward of the ventral weapons bay. The company states that the intensive test pro gramme is aimed at- obviating the need for any further modifica tions after the aircraft is in service. The Seamew is shortly to undergo carrier trials and initial stages of quantity production arc under way.
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