AD Seaplane Type 1000
J. Samuel White · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · bomber
The AD Seaplane Type 1000, also known as the Admiralty Type 1000 and the AD.1, was a British First World War seaplane designed to attack German warships. When it first flew it was the largest British aircraft yet to take to the air.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 19.58 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Float-equipped biplane of pod-and-boom design
- Engines at the front of both booms and at the rear of the central crew pod
- Twin-boom layout with twin tail surfaces
A very large float-equipped biplane with a central crew pod, twin booms each carrying an engine at the front, and a third engine at the rear of the pod.
Specifications
- The AD Seaplane Type 1000 has a length of 19.58 m (64 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 35.05 m (115 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 135 km/h (84 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The design was by Harris Booth of the Admiralty Air Department just before the First World War, and was the first aircraft designed from scratch as a torpedo bomber. Development began in 1915 and the aircraft first flew in the summer of 1916.
Variants
Three versions were planned: a torpedo bomber, a bomber and an aircraft with a recoilless Davis 12-pounder gun. The Davis gun was changed for a conventional 12-pounder naval gun, though a gun was never installed.
Where you'll see it
Seven aircraft were ordered from J. Samuel White. The first, when tested, proved heavier than expected, with poor performance and an undercarriage that was not robust enough, so the contract for the other six was cancelled.
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