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The Supermarine Sea Otter Biplane History
The Supermarine Sea Otter, developed
from the Supermarine Walrus, was designed and built by the Supermarine Aviation Works. Not only was it the final biplane flying
boat to be designed by them, it was also the last biplane to
go into service with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The test
aircraft was originally fitted with a Bristol Perseus XI radial
engine and a two bladed propeller, however the propeller was changed
several times and ended up with four blades set at an angle of 30º.
The Sea Otter had it’s
first flight on September 23, 1938, however an order for production
was not placed until January 1942. The Bristol Perseus XI Radial
engine was replaced for the production aircraft following problems
with cooling. The replacement engine was the Bristol Mercury XXX
which drove a three bladed propeller. It was
operated as a patrolling aircraft as well as for air-sea rescues by
both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. Two variants were
produced, the MkI and the MkII, however, due to the end of World War
II, the order for 592 aircraft was cancelled after the supply of
only 292.
It was also
operated by the Australian Navy, the Danish Royal Air Force, the
Royal Egyptian Air Force, the French Aeronavale and Troupes
Coloniales and the Royal Netherlands Navy. There are none of these
aircraft surviving.
Various scale
models, model kits and plans of this aircraft have been available in
the market place.
Supermarine Sea Otter
Biplane Specifications:
Supermarine Sea
Otter Crew: 4
Supermarine Sea Otter Length: 39ft 10¾in (12.16m)
Supermarine Sea Otter Wingspan: 46ft 0in (14.02m)
Supermarine Sea Otter Height: 15ft 1½in (4.61m)
Supermarine Sea Otter Wing area: 610ft² (56.7m²)
Supermarine Sea Otter Empty weight: 6,805lb (3,093kg)
Supermarine Sea Otter Loaded weight: 10,000lb (4,545kg)
Supermarine Sea Otter Engine: Single Bristol Mercury XXX radial piston engine, 965
hp (720 kW)
Supermarine Sea Otter Maximum speed: 163mph (262 km/h)
Supermarine Sea Otter Range: 690 mi (1,111 km)
Supermarine Sea Otter Service Ceiling: 17,000ft (5,180m)
Supermarine Sea Otter Biplane
Armament:
Bombs
4 x 250lb
Guns
3 x .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine guns
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