Time Period: Pre-WW1
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Biplane, Trainer Aircraft, Prototypes and Experimental
Manufacturer: Short Brothers
Short S.27 Aircraft Overview
The Short S.27 was a British biplane flying boat designed and built by the Short Brothers in the 1910s. It was one of the first aircraft to be specifically designed for maritime reconnaissance and patrol missions and was used by the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force during World War I.
The Short S.27 had a wooden hull with a fabric covering and was powered by two 150 hp Sunbeam engines mounted in tandem above the top wing. It had a crew of three, including a pilot, observer, and gunner, and was armed with a single machine gun mounted on a swiveling platform in the bow of the aircraft.
The aircraft had a top speed of around 120 km/h (75 mph) and a range of up to 965 km (600 miles). It was used primarily for reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols, and was equipped with a variety of bombs and depth charges for use in attacking enemy submarines.
The Short S.27 was a successful aircraft design that helped to establish the role of flying boats in naval aviation. It was eventually replaced by newer aircraft designs in the 1920s, but it remained in service with some air forces until the outbreak of World War II.
Short S.27 Specifications (Improved S.27)
- Crew: 2
- Length: 42 ft 1 in (12.83 m)
- Wingspan: 46 ft 5 in (14.15 m)
- Wing area: 517 sq ft (48.0 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,100 lb (499 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,540 lb (699 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Omega 7 cylinder air-cooled rotary engine, 50 hp (37 kW).
Short S.27 Performance (Improved S.27)
- Maximum speed: 48 mph (77 km/h, 42 kn)
- Wing loading: 3 lb/sq ft (15 kg/m2)
