Sperry Land and Sea Triplane
Sperry Aircraft · United States · first flew 1918 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Sperry Land and Sea Triplane was an American three-seat amphibious aircraft designed as a coastal reconnaissance and bomber type.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Equal-span two-bay triplane with N-type interplane struts
- Pusher Liberty engine driving a four-bladed propeller
- Outrigger tail on tubular spars, mounted high to keep clear of heavy seas
Look for an all-wood amphibious triplane with a rear-facing propeller and a high outrigger tail.
Specifications
- The Sperry Land and Sea Triplane has a length of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.63 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 146 km/h (91 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Alfred Verville and Lawrence Sperry conceived it to do a similar job to the Curtiss HS flying boats, with the added ability to operate from land bases. It first flew in November 1918.
Variants
Two examples were built and tested for the US Navy. Each was powered by a 400 hp Liberty L-12.
Where you'll see it
The machine performed well on land and water, but no orders were placed. Its main wheels could be jettisoned after takeoff to increase range, at the cost of a water landing.
Related aircraft
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