Supermarine Stranraer
Supermarine · United Kingdom · first flew 1934 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Supermarine Stranraer was a twin-engined biplane flying boat and the RAF's last and fastest biplane flying boat.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 16.69 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engined biplane flying boat
- Engines in nacelles under the upper wing, clear of sea spray
- Gun positions in the nose, dorsal and tail
Look for a biplane hull with two Bristol Pegasus radial engines slung under the upper wing.
Specifications
- The Supermarine Stranraer has a length of 16.69 m (55 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 25.91 m (85 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 265 km/h (165 mph).
- Typical crew: 6-7.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was derived from the Supermarine Scapa and shaped by Specification R.24/31. The first flight was on 24 July 1934, and it entered RAF service in 1937.
Variants
Canadian Vickers built 40 under licence for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Fifty-seven were built in all.
Where you'll see it
It flew anti-submarine and convoy escort patrols early in the war and left RAF front-line service in 1941. Canadian examples served until 1946, and some were later sold to regional airlines.
Related aircraft
- Supermarine Type 224
- Supermarine Walrus
- Supermarine Scapa
- Supermarine Spitfire
- ANF Les Mureaux 115
- CAMS 110
- CANT Z.501 Gabbiano
- Curtiss SOC Seagull
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