Aircraft appreciation thread #1 - Seaplanes!

Post by **klr** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:25 pm

That's right, floatplanes and flying boats. I subscribe to the "american" definition:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaplane

The word "seaplane" is used to describe two types of air/water vehicles: the floatplane and the flying boat.

* A floatplane has slender pontoons mounted under the fuselage. Two floats are common, but other configurations are possible. Only the "floats" of a floatplane normally come into contact with water. The fuselage remains above water. Some small land aircraft can be modified to become float planes and in general floatplanes are small aircraft.
* In a flying boat, the main source of buoyancy is the fuselage, which acts like a ship's hull in the water. Most flying boats have small floats mounted on their wings to keep them stable. Not all small seaplanes have been floatplanes, but all large seaplanes have been flying boats, their great weight supported on their hull.

The term "seaplane" is used by some instead of "floatplanes". This is the standard British usage[1]. This article treats both flying boats[2] and floatplanes[3] as types of seaplane[4], in the US fashion.

An amphibious aircraft can take off and land both on conventional runways and water. A true seaplane can only take off and land on water. There are amphibious flying boats and amphibious floatplanes, as well as some hybrid designs, e.g., floatplanes with retractable floats. Modern production seaplanes are typically light aircraft, amphibious and of a floatplane design.

First up, the Beriev 42:

http://website.lineone.net/%7Eroling47/ ... e42-2a.JPG[/imgc]

Post by **Ace** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:31 pm

Post by **Gawdzilla Sama** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:34 pm

The SC Seahawk was a scout seaplane designed by Curtiss for the U.S. Navy. The existing Curtiss SO3C Seamew and the Vought OS2U Kingfisher were 1937 designs that, by 1942, needed replacement.[1]

Design and development

Work began in June 1942, following a US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics request for scout seaplane proposals. Curtiss submitted the Seahawk design on 1 August 1942, with a contract for two prototypes and five service test aircraft awarded on 25 August.[1] A production order for 500 SC-1s followed in June 1943, prior to the first flight of the prototypes.[2]

While only intended to seat the pilot, a bunk was provided in the aft fuselage for rescue or personnel transfer. Two M2 Browning machine guns were fitted in the wings, and two underwing hardpoints allowed carriage of 250 lb bombs or, on the right wing, surface-scan radar. The main float, designed to incorporate a bomb bay, suffered substantial leaks when used in that fashion, and was modified to carry an auxiliary fuel tank.[1]

The first flight of a prototype XSC-1 took place 16 February 1944 at the Columbus, Ohio Curtiss plant.[3] Flight testing continued through 28 April, when the last of the seven pre-production aircraft took to the air. Nine further prototypes were later built, with a second seat and modified cockpit, designated SC-2; series production was not undertaken.

[edit] Operational service

The first serial production Seahawks were delivered on 22 October 1944, to the USS Guam.[4] All 577 aircraft eventually produced for the Navy were delivered on conventional landing gear and flown to the appropriate Naval Air Station, where floats were fitted for service.

Capable of being fitted with either float or wheeled landing gear, the Seahawk was arguably America's best floatplane scout of World War II. However, its protracted development time meant it entered service too late to see significant action in the war. It was not until June 1945, during the pre-invasion bombardment of Borneo, that the Seahawk was involved in military action.[1] By the end of the war, seaplanes were becoming less desirable, with the Seahawk being replaced soon afterwards by helicopters.

Tri-color camouflage and markings on the Seahawk were in accordance with US Navy regulations from 1944, 1945 and later postwar regulations.

[edit] Specifications (SC-1, float-equipped)

Data from Dave's Warbirds[5] and The Virtual Aviation Museum[6]

General characteristics

* Crew: One pilot
* Length: 36 ft 4.5 in (11 m)
* Wingspan: 41 ft (12.5 m)
* Height: 18 ft (5.48 m)
* Wing area: 280 ft² (26 m²)
* Empty weight: 6,320 lb (2,867 kg)
* Loaded weight: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 9,000 lb (4,082 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Wright R-1820-62 Cyclone supercharged 9-cylinder radial engine, 1,350 hp (1,007 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 272 knots (313 mph, 504 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 113 knots (125 mph, 210 km/h)
* Range: 543 nm (625 mi, 1,000 km)
* Service ceiling: 37,400 ft (11,400 m)
* Wing loading: 32.19 lb/ft² (157 kg/m²)

Armament

* 2× .50 M2 Browning machine guns, 200 rounds each
* 750 lb (340 kg) of external ordnance

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/navalwar/color/seahawk.jpg[/imgc]

http://www.aerofiles.com/curt-sc1.jpg[/imgc]