Saunders A.4 Medina
S. E. Saunders · United Kingdom · first flew 1926 · transport aircraft
The Saunders A.4 Medina was a British flying boat built by S. E. Saunders at East Cowes, Isle of Wight. It was a plywood-covered wooden biplane with a crew of two and room for ten passengers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.94 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two Bristol Jupiter VI radial engines slung from the top wings
- Upper wing slightly smaller than the lower, braced with Warren truss interplane struts
- Plywood-covered wooden flying boat hull
A twin-engined biplane flying boat with the engines hung between the wings. The upper wing is slightly smaller than the lower.
Specifications
- The Saunders A.4 Medina has a length of 14.94 m (49 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.68 m (58 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 184 km/h (114 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built for the Air Council between 1925 and 1926, powered by two 450 hp Bristol Jupiter VI radials mounted onto and slung from the top wings. It first flew in November 1926.
Variants
Only one Medina was built, registered G-EBMG.
Where you'll see it
It proved disappointing, with poor water handling and a hull that was prone to leaks. It was withdrawn from use and scrapped in 1929.
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