Supermarine Seagull

[Scott Rose]

Supermarine Seagull

There is something inherently beautiful about flying boats.

[Rajay]

There is something inherently beautiful about flying boats.

+1! Certainly no argument about that from me!

[JohnB]

In the top photo it looks like a late Seafire (with the counter-rotating props) has been parked on a seaplane fuselage.

[ignomini]

I think the tag line for this one should be "No air passes undisturbed."

[sandiego89]

There is something inherently beautiful about flying boats.

While I do agree about the elegance of flying bots, I am not so sure the Seagull and beautiful are appropriate to use in the same sentence.

[CoastieJohn]

I've looked at that airplane the last couple of days and it is an odd looking one for sure. To me....it's like a mutt plane. Thru my eyes when I look at it, I see hints of other aircraft....PBY's, RD-4's, PB2Y's, Spits, maybe an OS2U.

[ignomini]

I think you may be right. They probably discovered some air was sneaking past without slamming into something along the way.

[airnutz]

Is it my imagination that PA147 has a third vertical whereas PA 143 does not ??

Not your imagination, PA143 is the 1st prototype and would also later receive a third fin. They both would later receive a taller dorsal fin with the outboard ones reduced in size. The Seagull had quite a few interesting goodies...full span slats and flaps with a pilot controlled variable incidence wing which enabled landing speed around 60mph. All of this folded aft for easier shipboard storage.(Aeroplane Monthly Dec. 1976) The 2nd prototype PA147 ID is more readily recognized later sporting an extended wing support pylon fairing angled back.

[airnutz]

If we clic on Scott's blue Supermarine Seagull script under his first photo we find it's a hot link to the Resource page with most of the aforementioned info and more....DOH!
Interesting tidbit, with the Seagull "rollin' dirty"...all barn doors hanging out and the incidence cranked up, the Seagull test pilot was able to maintain an airspeed of 35mph. Pretty good for a big bird!

[PropsRule]

It looks like what would happen if someone decided to take a Walrus to Reno.

[PeterA]

In the top photo it looks like a late Seafire (with the counter-rotating props) has been parked on a seaplane fuselage.

With that straight wing, I would say more like a Seafang.

PeterA

[Rajay]

I think you may be right. They probably discovered some air was sneaking past without slamming into something along the way.

The unusual speed fairing on the tailwheel was the "last chance" airflow disturber! Do you suppose it served dual functions as a water rudder too?

[airnutz]

The unusual speed fairing on the tailwheel was the "last chance" airflow disturber! Do you suppose it served dual functions as a water rudder too?

Yup, in the water the tailwheel and fairing serve as a water rudder, while in flight the assembly rotates up and out(mostly) from the airstream. Incidently, 143 also later got the extended engine nacelle and trunk fairing as 147 had.