Saunders Severn
S. E. Saunders · United Kingdom · first flew 1930 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Saunders Severn was a three-engined sesquiplane flying boat intended for maritime patrol.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 19.66 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three Bristol Jupiter radial engines held on struts at the upper wing
- Lower wing only about 58 percent of the span of the upper wing
- Two braced fins with balanced rudders and a gunner position between them
A sesquiplane flying boat with a slab-sided two-step hull, stabilising floats on outboard struts and a tail with two fins.
Specifications
- The Saunders Severn has a length of 19.66 m (65 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 26.82 m (88 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 203 km/h (126 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was the last flying boat designed by S. E. Saunders Ltd before the takeover that formed Saunders-Roe, built to Air Ministry specification R.4/27. It first flew in July 1930 and its hull used a corrugated skin construction.
Variants
It was also known as the Saunders-Roe or Saro A.7 Severn. Only one was built.
Where you'll see it
It performed well but was fragile and unreliable. The single prototype, N240, was lost in 1932.
Related aircraft
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