Editing AD Flying Boat

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = AD Flying Boat
  |image = Air Department Flying Boat.jpg
  |caption = An Air Department Flying Boat used by the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS)
  |type = Patrol Flying boat/Civil Transport
  |manufacturer = Pemberton-Billing Ltd. (later [[Supermarine|Supermarine Aviation Works]])
  |designer = [[Linton Hope]]
  |first_flight = 1916
  |introduction = 
  |retired =
  |status =
  |primary_user = [[Royal Navy]]
  |more_users = 
  |produced = 
  |number_built = 27
  |unit cost = 
  |variants = 
  |developed_into=[[Supermarine Baby]]
}}

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 development==
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 [[Empennage|tail]] with twin fins and [[rudder]]s. The pilot and observer sat in tandem in the nose, with the [[Piston engine|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|Supermarine Aviation Works]]).<ref name="Bruce British p3"/> The first prototype was intended to be powered by a 150&nbsp;hp (112&nbsp;kW) [[Sunbeam Nubian]] engine, but as this was not ready to use, a {{convert|200|hp}} [[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 [[Bow (watercraft)|fore]] and [[aft]] vibration during take-off, while subject to excessive [[Flight dynamics|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 Channel==
[[File:Supermarine Channel Det Norske Luftfartsrederi.jpg|thumb|A Supermarine Channel with the Norwegian airline [[Det Norske Luftfartsrederi]] in 1920.]]
Following the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|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 {{convert|160|hp}} [[Beardmore 160 hp]] engines, and the Channel II was fitted with a {{convert|240|hp}} [[Armstrong Siddeley Puma]] engine. The reconfigured flying-boats provided accommodation for a pilot and three passengers in three open [[cockpit]]s.

==Operators==
===Military operators===
; {{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>
; {{JPN}}
*[[Imperial Japanese Navy]] purchased three Channels.<ref name="Andrews & Morgan p40"/>
; {{NOR}}
* [[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> 
; {{SWE}}
* [[Swedish Navy|Royal Swedish Navy]] purchased a single Channel in 1921, it being destroyed during testing.<ref name="Andrews & Morgan p40"/>
; {{UK}}
* [[Royal Navy]]
** [[Royal Naval Air Service]] operated AD Flying Boat.

===Civil operators===
; {{NOR}}
* [[Det Norske Luftfartsrederi]], Channel Mk I<ref>Nerdrum 1986, p.30.</ref>

==Specifications (AD Flying Boat)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref  =  British Aeroplanes 1914-18 <ref name="Bruce British p5-7">Bruce 1957, pp.5-7.</ref>
|prime units? = imp
<!--General characteristics-->
|crew = two, pilot and observer
|length ft = 30
|length in  = 7
|upper span ft=50
|upper span in=4
|lower span ft=37
|lower span in=7+1/4
|height ft  = 13
|height in  = 1
|wing area sqft= 479
|aspect ratio = 
|airfoil = 
|empty weight kg = 
|empty weight lb = 2508
|gross weight lb = 3567
|max takeoff weight kg  = 
|max takeoff weight lb  = 
|more general           = 
    <!--Powerplant-->
|eng1 number  = 1
|eng1 name = [[Hispano-Suiza 8]]
|eng1 type = water-cooled [[V8 engine]]
|eng1 hp= 200
|prop name              = 
|prop dia m             = <!-- propeller aircraft --> 
|prop dia ft            = <!-- propeller aircraft --> 
|prop dia in            = <!-- propeller aircraft --> 
    <!--Performance-->
|max speed mph = 100
|max speed note         = at {{convert|2000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|cruise speed kmh = 
|cruise speed mph = 
|cruise speed kts= 
|cruise speed note = 
|stall speed kmh = 
|stall speed mph = 
|stall speed kts = 
|stall speed note = 
|never exceed speed kmh = 
|never exceed speed mph = 
|never exceed speed kts = 
|range km = 
|range miles = 
|range nmi = 
|range note  = 
|endurance = 4{{frac|1|2}} hr 
|ceiling ft = 11000
|ceiling note = 
|time to altitude=30 min to {{convert|10000|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}
|climb rate ms = 
|climb rate ftmin = 
|climb rate note        =

    <!--Armament-->
|guns =  1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) [[Lewis gun]] on flexible mount for observer
|bombs = small bomb load
}}

==See also==
* [[Sempill Mission]]
{{Aircontent
|related = 
|similar aircraft = 
|lists = *[[List of aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service]]
|see also = 
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{Commons category}}
* {{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=Charles Ferdinand |last2=Morgan |first2=Eric B. |title=Supermarine Aircraft since 1914 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3NTAAAAMAAJ |date=1981|edition=|publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=978-03701-0-018-0 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last1=Bruce |first1=J. M. |title=British Aeroplanes 1914–18 |date=1957 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=978-03700-0-038-1 |ref=none }}
* {{cite book |last1=London |first1=Peter |title=British Flying Boats |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uKlTAAAAMAAJ |date=2003 |publisher=Sutton Publishing |location=Stroud, UK |isbn=978-0-7509-2695-9 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last1=Nerdrum |first1=Johan |title=Fugl Fønix: En beretning om Det Norske Luftfartselskap |date=1986 |publisher=Gyldendal Norsk Forlag |location=Oslo |isbn=82-05-16663-3 |language=Norwegian |ref=none}}

{{Air Department aircraft}}
{{Supermarine aircraft}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Air Department aircraft|Flying Boat]]
[[Category:1910s British patrol aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft]]
[[Category:Flying boats]]
[[Category:Supermarine aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1916]]