Test Pilots

[SlipStream77]

I was doing some research into the Supermarine Walrus as part of the group build in the modelling section of PH when I read that someone had managed to loop one.

The man who did it was the test pilot Joseph 'Mutt' Summers.

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

I like reading about the things that test pilots get up to, this guy must have been a fantastic pilot.

[Eric Mc]

He wasn't the only one - although apparently looping a Walrus usually meant that you got the contents of the bilges in your lap.

[Simpo Two]

We did give our planes some damn stupid names didn't we.

The Germans had 'Albatross' - a fast graceful bird that stays aloft for days riding the airstreams.
We had 'Camel' - a smelly grumpy humpy thing that farts and goes very slowly in deserts.

[Eric Mc]

I prefer the nickname given to the Walrus - the Shagbat. No one knows what it really means.

The Walrus was originally designed to a specification from the Royal Australian Navy. They gave it the name Seagull - much more appropriate for a flying machine.

[SlipStream77]

Eric Mc said:

I prefer the nickname given to the Walrus - the Shagbat. No one knows what it really means.

The Walrus was originally designed to a specification from the Royal Australian Navy. They gave it the name Seagull - much more appropriate for a flying machine.

It's also been called the steam pigeon and steam chicken.

Regarding the Seagull, I've only just read about the official Supermarine Seagull, the ASR-1, that was a very pretty aeroplane.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Seagull_%...

[Eric Mc]

Supermarine had used the name Seagull on a whole family of small flying boats dating back to the early 1920s. The "Walrus" was originally the Seagull V, which emphasised the fact that there had already been 4 previous permutations on the theme.
Here's the Seagull III from 1925.



You can see the general similarity in overall layout.

[Simpo Two]

SlipStream77 said:

Regarding the Seagull, I've only just read about the official Supermarine Seagull, the ASR-1, that was a very pretty aeroplane.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Seagull_%...

Interesting; looks nice. No doubt inspired by the Catalina but smaller - and 8 years too late!

[Eric Mc]

Simpo Two said:

SlipStream77 said:

Regarding the Seagull, I've only just read about the official Supermarine Seagull, the ASR-1, that was a very pretty aeroplane.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Seagull_%...

Interesting; looks nice. No doubt inspired by the Catalina but smaller - and 8 years too late!

I wouldn't think it was inspired by the Catalina at all. Supermarine had been making flying boats and seaplanes since World War 1 - longer than Consolidated. Supermarine were originally called Pemberton-Billing - after the rather eccentric founder of the company. They changed their name to Supermarine when they became part of the Vickers group in the 1920s. For many years, flying boats and seaplanes were their speciality.

The Seagull ASR-1 was the lasdt of a long line of seaplanes and flying boats from Supermarine.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

Supermarine had been making flying boats and seaplanes since World War 1 - longer than Consolidated. Supermarine were originally called Pemberton-Billing - after the rather eccentric founder of the company. They changed their name to Supermarine when they became part of the Vickers group in the 1920s. For many years, flying boats and seaplanes were their speciality. The Seagull ASR-1 was the lasdt of a long line of seaplanes and flying boats from Supermarine.

Sure but it still looks like a Catalina to me. Most Supermarine flying boats looked like the Wright Flyer in comparison; this one actually looks nice and looks as if it can fly faster thasn walking speed!

[Eric Mc]

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

Supermarine had been making flying boats and seaplanes since World War 1 - longer than Consolidated. Supermarine were originally called Pemberton-Billing - after the rather eccentric founder of the company. They changed their name to Supermarine when they became part of the Vickers group in the 1920s. For many years, flying boats and seaplanes were their speciality. The Seagull ASR-1 was the lasdt of a long line of seaplanes and flying boats from Supermarine.

Sure but it still looks like a Catalina to me. Most Supermarine flying boats looked like the Wright Flyer in comparison; this one actually looks nice and looks as if it can fly faster thasn walking speed!

Supermarine could build fast flying boats and seaplanes if they wanted to.

Despite the sleekness of the last Seagull, it was never put into production. The era of the Air Sea Rescue flying boat was over as the helicopter had arrived on the scene.
Whirlykits do a vacform model of the Seagull ASR1



I must admit, it does look a rather handsome aircraft.

Edited by Eric Mc on Saturday 8th January 10:18

[SlipStream77]

It would have sounded just like a Spitfire too, I think we could use a few of these even today.

[Simpo Two]

On that model, the spats are on the wrong side, logic would dictate...

[Eric Mc]

What spats?

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

What spats?

Wrong terminology; I mean the semicircular thingies inboard of the wheels. Shouldn't they be on the outside of the wheels when in the retracted position?

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 8th January 20:15

[mrloudly]

My old neighbour Pete Newhouse DFC God bless him, was put on a charge for looping an Anson. Loose objects in the back fell forwards and smashed the instruments as they fell over the top of the loop, hence they were caught...
He was a Beaufighter night fighter pilot at the time, told me they could get away with pretty much anything as pilots were in such short supply. Some amazing stories!!!

[tr7v8]

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

What spats?

Wrong terminology; I mean the semicircular thingies inboard of the wheels. Shouldn't they be on the outside of the wheels when in the retracted position?

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 8th January 20:15

Assuming you mean the undercarriage doors then no, the legs pivot around 270 Deg & they are then on the outside.

[perdu]

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

What spats?

Wrong terminology; I mean the semicircular thingies inboard of the wheels. Shouldn't they be on the outside of the wheels when in the retracted position?

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 8th January 20:15

I rather suspect that they will fold back into the stowed position thus the doors would then be on the outside

The retracting joint at the top of the leg seems to have a substantial hinge knuckle that looks to be angled

Looks almost as if you could modify an old Airifx kit to that model

[Simpo Two]

OK, perhaps I haven't anticipated the mechanism moving in two ways at once. I thought it folded back horizontally then retreacted into the recess.

[Eric Mc]

These are spats -

[dr_gn]

perdu said:

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

What spats?

Wrong terminology; I mean the semicircular thingies inboard of the wheels. Shouldn't they be on the outside of the wheels when in the retracted position?

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 8th January 20:15

I rather suspect that they will fold back into the stowed position thus the doors would then be on the outside

The retracting joint at the top of the leg seems to have a substantial hinge knuckle that looks to be angled

Looks almost as if you could modify an old Airifx kit to that model

Click on the thumbnails for animation:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28...