Supermarine Swan
Supermarine · United Kingdom · first flew 1924 · transport aircraft
The Supermarine Swan was a British commercial biplane flying boat of the 1920s, designed by R. J. Mitchell. It was the world's first twin-engine amphibian aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.78 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Biplane flying boat with a boat hull
- Two engines mounted between the wings
- Amphibian fitted with wheeled undercarriage
A twin-engined biplane flying boat with a hull and an amphibian undercarriage, with a span of 20.9 m.
Specifications
- The Supermarine Swan has a length of 14.78 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 20.93 m (69 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Completed as a wooden aerial reconnaissance flying boat, it first flew on 25 March 1924. A single machine was built at Supermarine's works at Woolston, Southampton.
Variants
Only one Swan was built. It was the precursor to the Supermarine Southampton.
Where you'll see it
In 1926 it was registered G-EBJY, converted to carry up to 10 passengers and loaned to Imperial Airways for a service between England and France. It returned to the Air Ministry in March 1927 and was scrapped the following year.
Related aircraft
- Supermarine S.4
- Supermarine Sea Eagle
- Supermarine Southampton
- Supermarine Sea Lion II
- Avro 561 Andover
- Canadian Vickers Vedette
- English Electric P.5 Kingston
- GAZ-5 AK-1
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