AD Flying Boat

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The AD Flying Boat was designed by the British Admiralty's Air Department to serve as a patrol aircraft that could operate in conjunction with Royal Navy warships. Intended for use during the First World War, production of the aircraft was terminated as the end of the war came into sight, and the type saw little operational use. A number were repurchased after the end of the war by Supermarine Aviation and rebuilt as civil transports, becoming known as the Supermarine Channel.

Design and developmentEdit

Designed in 1915 by the British yacht designer Linton Hope,<ref name="Bruce British p3">Bruce 1957, p.3.</ref> the aircraft was of conventional biplane flying-boat configuration, and also featured a biplane tail with twin fins and rudders. The pilot and observer sat in tandem in the nose, with the engine and pusher propeller mounted behind them, between the wings. The wings could be folded forwards to facilitate shipboard stowage.

Two prototypes were constructed in 1916 by Pemberton-Billing Ltd (later to become Supermarine Aviation Works).<ref name="Bruce British p3"/> The first prototype was intended to be powered by a 150 hp (112 kW) Sunbeam Nubian engine, but as this was not ready to use, a Template:Convert Hispano-Suiza 8 was substituted.<ref name="Bruce p4">Bruce 1957, p.4</ref> The aircraft performed poorly both on the water and in the air, demonstrating severe fore and aft vibration during take-off, while subject to excessive yaw during flight. After these problems were solved by producing revised versions of the hull, and the fin and rudder, the AD Flying Boat was able to be ordered into production.<ref name="Andrews & Morgan p23">Andrews and Morgan 1987, p.23.</ref><ref name="Londonp20-23">London 2003, p.20-23.</ref> A total of 80 aircraft were ordered, and 27 machines were built.<ref name="Andrews & Morgan p355">Andrews and Morgan 1987, p.355.</ref> Examples were tested with Sunbeam Arab and Wolseley Python engines.<ref name="Londonp20-23"/>

Supermarine ChannelEdit

File:Supermarine Channel Det Norske Luftfartsrederi.jpg

A Supermarine Channel with the Norwegian airline Det Norske Luftfartsrederi in 1920.

Following the Armistice, Supermarine purchased 19 of these AD Flying Boats to modify them for the civil market as the Supermarine Channel. The Channel I was powered with a Template:Convert Beardmore 160 hp engines, and the Channel II was fitted with a Template:Convert Armstrong Siddeley Puma engine. The reconfigured flying-boats provided accommodation for a pilot and three passengers in three open cockpits.

OperatorsEdit

Military operatorsEdit

Template:CHL

Chilean Air Force - One aircraft.
Chilean Navy acquired one Channel with modified hull (similar to the Supermarine Seal II) in 1922.<ref name="Andrews & Morgan p40">Andrews and Morgan 1987, p.40.</ref>

Template:JPN

Imperial Japanese Navy purchased three Channels.<ref name="Andrews & Morgan p40"/>

{{#invoke: flag||Norway}}

Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service purchased four Beardmore engined Channels in 1920, acquiring a further ex-civil aircraft. One remained in service until 1928.<ref name="Andrews & Morgan p35-6">Andrews and Morgan 1987, pp.35-36.</ref>