Supermarine S.5
Supermarine · United Kingdom · first flew 1927 · fighter
The Supermarine S.5 was a British single-seat racing seaplane designed by R.J. Mitchell for the 1927 Schneider Trophy contest, which it won at a speed of 453 km/h, establishing Supermarine and Mitchell's reputation for high-speed aircraft design. It was a crucial step toward the later S.6 and ultimately the Spitfire.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1927 Schneider Trophy racing floatplane with a Napier Lion engine
- Sleek single-seat monoplane with twin float undercarriage and no undercarriage legs
- Direct aerodynamic ancestor of the Supermarine Spitfire via R.J. Mitchell's design line
A sleek all-metal low-wing monoplane seaplane with a very tightly cowled in-line engine, twin racing floats that house fuel, and no conventional undercarriage — distinctively streamlined even among racing aircraft.
Specifications
- The Supermarine S.5 has a length of 7.4 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.15 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 514 km/h (319 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Mitchell's S.5 introduced a more refined low-drag layout than its predecessors, using the Napier Lion engine mounted in a tight, closely cowled installation and using the floats as fuel tanks. The RAF's High Speed Flight operated the S.5 and its wins at Venice in 1927 brought enormous prestige to British aviation.
Variants
The S.5 was followed by the S.6 (1929) and S.6B (1931), each progressively more powerful and faster, with the S.6B winning the Trophy outright for Britain.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the RAF's High Speed Flight for Schneider Trophy racing; not a combat aircraft but hugely influential on subsequent British fighter development.
Related aircraft
- Supermarine Southampton
- Supermarine S.6B
- Supermarine Sea Eagle
- Supermarine Type 224
- Arado SD I
- Avia BH-26
- Avia BH-27
- Avia BH-29
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