Naval Aircraft Factory SON-1 Seagull
Naval Aircraft Factory · USA · first flew 1938 · light aircraft
The SON-1 Seagull was a licence-built variant of the Curtiss SOC Seagull produced by the Naval Aircraft Factory, serving as a shipboard scout-observation aircraft launched by catapult from US Navy cruisers and battleships.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.87 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- NAF-built SOC Seagull, licence production variant
- Shipboard catapult biplane scout-observation floatplane
- Single-float biplane with wing stabilising floats
Visually identical to the Curtiss-built SOC Seagull; biplane configuration with a large central float, wing-tip floats, radial engine, and open tandem cockpits — distinguishable from the Curtiss version only by manufacturer's markings.
Specifications
- The Naval Aircraft Factory SON-1 Seagull has a length of 7.87 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.97 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 282 km/h (175 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Naval Aircraft Factory produced the SON-1 as a supplement to Curtiss's own SOC production, using NAF manufacturing capacity to meet Navy demand; the SON-1 was essentially identical to the Curtiss-built SOC-3 in configuration and performance.
Variants
The SON-1 was the only Naval Aircraft Factory production variant; it paralleled the Curtiss SOC-3 and served alongside Curtiss-built Seagulls in fleet operations.
Where you'll see it
Served with US Navy cruiser and battleship observation squadrons from the late 1930s into the early years of World War II; the Seagull was eventually superseded by the Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplane monoplane.
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