Saunders Kittiwake
S. E. Saunders · United Kingdom · first flew 1920 · airliner
The Saunders Kittiwake was a British amphibian flying boat built by S. E. Saunders at East Cowes, Isle of Wight. Only one was built, and it was scrapped after less than a year of testing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.31 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Amphibian flying boat biplane with two radial engines mounted between the wings
- Tailplane carried high above the hull, bearing three wire-braced fins
- Four-bay wings without sweep or stagger
A four-bay biplane with two ABC Wasp II radial engines in nacelles mounted on struts between the wings. It carried two crew and seven passengers, and the wings had camber-changing devices on the leading and trailing edges.
Specifications
- The Saunders Kittiwake has a length of 13.31 m (44 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 20.8 m (68 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 177 km/h (110 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed to compete for the 1920 Air Ministry Commercial Amphibian Competition, although it was too late to enter. The wooden hull used Saunders' patent Consuta sewn-plywood construction. The prototype, G-EAUD, first flew on 19 September 1920 with Norman Macmillan at the controls.
Variants
There were no variants: only one was built.
Where you'll see it
The first flight was brief and ended in a forced water landing when the leading-edge camber gear was lost. It made a number of experimental flights in 1921 and was scrapped in July 1921.
Related aircraft
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