BRITISH GIANT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 12, 13 July 1935, Page 10

BRITISH GIANT

HER LARGEST AIRCIMFT

PARTICULARS DIVUU3ED

(From "The Post's" Representative.) I LONDON, JVfine .22. Information about the structure and performance of the biggest 'aeroplane yet built in Great Britain—tlj.e 31-tons Short Sarafand six-engined fllying boat —is now divulged. A detailed description • placed at the disposal'- o£ the Society of British Aircraft' Constructors, Ltd., by the Short, Cof.iipany"re-j veals details which- mark |a forward | step of great importance ih; the de-1 velopment of marine aircraltt! ' I Six Rolls-Royce Buzzatd watercooled engines, each developing up to 93D h.p., provide power. ; They arc mounted in three tandem nacelles between the biplane wings. The maximum attainable speed, with full disposable load of more thaw 11 tons on board, is 150 m.p.h. The st/.n r air range, i carrying full military, lojad; is 1450 miles. The take-off run, ipjUi no helping wind, lasts 47-£ seconds, and the full-load service "ceiling" is 13,000 ft The Sarafand has been ; moored out for long periods in gales of 50 m.p.h. without trouble, and its; si?e enables it. to take oil: and desceind-on water that is far. too rough lor smaller r.raft. . The, metal structure has withstood successfully, the effects of, saltwater- coiTosion and of Extreme heat. : From tip to tip the winigs "span 120 ft. In the normal flying attitude the -length is a few inches less than 90ft and the height 33-ift, The tail !'unit is larger than the main lifting surfaces of. many aeroplanes, measuing 41fit,in span. The hull, built entirely of li/;Ht aluminium alloys, is nearly 90ft long and has. a maximum, depth. of 12ft. Each of the wing-tip floats which; stabilise the craft on-the water is more than 20ft long. • •■ . ;•■■•:... exceptional hull.: capacity provides roomy accommodation'for equipment and the;crew.of tenmen.' In the bow compartment is amounted a ma- | .chine-gun. •■■ 'or, alternatively,- a IJnounder quickfirer off 'the- kind carried by the -Blackburn Perth boats which are flown by jisqme Royal- Air Force squadrons. A hiaich is fitted, for tiie bomb-sight. Mowing'gear, is also carried' in.', this forward compartment. The grqund anchor. [requires' the - use :of a winch. Immediately aft, of the bow compartment, is, the pilots';cockpit, which is totally enclosed arid fitted with a sliding .roof g.nd windows. The second pilot's place; Is not essential, because an.automatic robot pilot.is installed. Under the pMots' compartment is a passageway leaijing from 'the. bow to the wardroom. ilSere are mounted the navigator's chart board and table, and the engineer's iron trol, panels. The roomy compartrhenii between the main wing spars is .normally used as the officers' quarters. ''Ehe nine "stations'" on .the. boat are lin'ifc'ed by telephone.