Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-21T14:45:00.107Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Seaplane research — the MAEE contribution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

Sir James Hamilton  and
J. E. Allen
Sir James Hamilton
Affiliation:
Department of Education and Science
J. E. Allen
Affiliation:
Kingston University Kingston, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Seaplanes were an important feature of aviation during its first four decades, both for long range transport and high airspeeds. Research, and the testing of new designs, was carried out at the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe until 1958. However, the record of this scientific work at MAEE has never been fully reported until this paper. The main scientific topics described are, stability during take-off and landing, hydrodynamic resistance, landing impact, spray formation and its control. Armament research and testing receive special attention. A large fleet of prototype seaplanes was type tested; results from these type tests are summarised to show the wide range of designs needing to be assessed. In a final section the authors consider how seaplanes may return to the main stream in the 21st century.The two authors were respectively Head of the Scientific and Technical offices at MAEE in the 1940s.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 107 , Issue 1069 , March 2003 , pp. 125 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2003 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Coster, G. Corsairville: The Lost Domain of the Flying Boat, 2000, Viking.Google Scholar
2. Cox, H. Roxbee. A prolegomena for a detailed study for the future of aviation, JRAeSoc, 1940, 44, (357), pp 681–754.Google Scholar
3. Knowler, H. Flying boats, Aeronaut J, 1966, 70, (661), pp 134–137.Google Scholar
4. Knowler, H. Recent developments in flying boats, 17 January 1947, 19th Thomas Lowe Gray Lecture, IMechE, London.Google Scholar
5. Smith, A.G. and White, H.G.A review of porpoising instability, 1944, MAEE Report H/Res/173.Google Scholar
6. Jones, R. and Brown, A.F. Tests on flying boat hulls with faired steps in the compressed air tunnel, 1938, ARC 3974.Google Scholar
7. Jones, R., Bell, A.H. and Brown, A.F. Drag measurements on a model of a flying boat hull, CAT, 1944, ARC 7784.Google Scholar
8. McCaig, I.W. and Inverarity, W.M. The water stability of the Coronado flying boat, 1944, MAEE Report H/Res/176.Google Scholar
9. Hamilton, J.A. An investigation into the effect of forced and natural afterbody ventilation on the hydrodynamic characteristics of a small flying boat (Saro 37) with a 1:15 fairing over the main step, 1952, ARC 10589 R&M 2463.Google Scholar
10. Hamilton, J.A. An investigation into the effect of forced and natural afterbody ventilation on the hydrodynamic characteristics of a small flying boat with a 1:20 fairing over the main step, 1952, ARC 11360 R&M 2711.Google Scholar
11. Hamilton, J.A. A full-scale investigation into the hydrodynamic behaviour of a highly-faired flying boat hull, 1956, ARC 15196 R&M 2899.Google Scholar
12. Tomazewski, K.M. and Smith, A.G. Some aspects of the flow round planing seaplane hulls or floats and improvements in step and afterbody design, 1948, ARC 14376.Google Scholar
13. Smith, A.G., Wright, D.F. and Owen, T.B. Towing tank tests on a large flying boat seaplane (Princess), Part II, 1950, RAE Report Aero 2404 ARC 13664 R&M 2834.Google Scholar
14. Hamilton, and Gigg, R.V. The full-scale hydrodynamic performance of a large four-engined flying boat at overload in calm water and swell, 1956, ARC 15197 R&M 2898.Google Scholar
15. Hamilton, J.A. A note on the use of free-flight models to investigate the handling of new seaplane designs, 1945, MAEE Report H/Res/195.Google Scholar
16. Allen, J.E. Water tests on free-flying models, 1 November 1944, MAEE Report H/Res/183.Google Scholar
17. Owen, et al Model testing techniques employed in the RAE seaplane tank, 1954, RAE Report Aero 2505.Google Scholar
18. Parker, R. Preliminary pressure measurements during the landing of a Sunderland Mk 5 flying boat in rough water conditions including one in which the forebody was severely damaged, 1952, MAEE Report F/Res/227 ARC 15201.Google Scholar
19. Hamilton, J.A. Full-scale measurements of impact load on a large flying boat (Sunderland Mk 5), Part II: Results for impacts on the main step, 1951, MAEE Report F/Res/220 ARC 13878.Google Scholar
20. Burns, A. and Fairclough, A.J. Dynamic landing loads of flying boats with reference to measurements made on Sunderland TX 293, 1948, RAE Report Structures 17 ARC 11344.Google Scholar
21. Williams, D. Some remarks on flying boat structural design in the light of papers, 1951, ARC 13878 (Hamilton, J.A.) and 11334 (Burns, A. and Fairclough, A.J.), ARC 14087.Google Scholar
22. Collar, A.R. On the effect of wing bending on the acceleration due to landing impact, 1954, ARC 16960.Google Scholar
23. Williams, D. Effect of wing flexibility on landing impact of a flying-boat hull, 1954, RAE Tech Note Structures 136 ARC 17083.Google Scholar
24. Arlotte, T. Discussion of impact behaviour with reference to force build up with time, 1954, Saunders Roe Ref TA/PEC/127 ARC 17165.Google Scholar
25. Williams, D. Hull-water landing impact of a flying boat: discrepancies between theory and experiment, 1955, ARC 18061.Google Scholar
26. Arlotte, T., Ward-Brown, P. and Crewe, P.R. Seaplane impact — a review of technical reports, 1956, ARC 18843.Google Scholar
27. Hamilton, J.A. A comparison between some landing impact measurements and two impact theories, 1948, MAEE Report F/Res/211.Google Scholar
28. Hamilton, J.A. and McIvor, J.W. Measurements of impact pressures on the hull of a model seaplane, 1946, MAEE Report F/Res/215.Google Scholar
29. McCaig, I.W.and Shedden, F. Impact pressures during ditching of the Avro Tudor four-engined transport, 1946, MAEE Report F/Res/205.Google Scholar
30. Allen, J.E. Impact measurements on a large model of a representative landplane fuselage on water, 1956, Aero Research Council Tech Report.Google Scholar
31. Water resistance measurements on a scale model of a Singapore IIA mounted on the single central float of a Moth, 1933, MAEE Report F/Res/67.Google Scholar
32. Hamilton, J.A. Water resistance measurements on a half-scale Sunderland hull, 1945, MAEE Report H/Res/187.Google Scholar
33. White, H.G. Note on air lubrication of seaplane hulls, 1944, MAEE Report H/Res/170.Google Scholar
34. White, H.G. and Smith, A.G. Air lubrication tests on a model Sunderland hull fitted to the Scion Senior, MAEE Report H/Res/162.Google Scholar
35. Naylor, P.E. and Smith, A.G., Take off and landing of a flying boat with hydrofoil, 1943, MAEE Report H/Res/169.Google Scholar
36. McCaig, I.W. Water stability of a model seaplane fitted with hydrofoils, 1945, MAEE Report H/Res/188.Google Scholar
37. Hamilton, J.A. A note on the performance of a jet pump using hydrogen peroxide as a driving medium, 1948, MAEE Report F/Res/208.Google Scholar
38. Locke, F.W.S. An analysis of the main spray characteristics of some full size multiengine flying boats, 1944, NACA Tech Note 1091.Google Scholar
39. Allen, J.E. Tank tests on the Short Sunderland IV (R8/42), November 1943, RAE Report Aero 1883.Google Scholar
40. Allen, J.E. Full scale spray tests of a four-engined flying boat (Seaford) with special reference to propeller damage, December 1947, Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment Report, Felixstowe. (JP4).Google Scholar
41. Smith, A.G. and Hamilton, J.A. Notes on a detailed research programme on the aero and hydrodynamics of hulls with high fineness ratio and full step fairings, 1951, MAEE Report F/Res/221 ARC 13877.Google Scholar
42. Blackett, P.M.S. Studies of War (Nuclear and Conventional), 1962, Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh and London.Google Scholar
43. Shaw, R.A. A review of armament research work at MAEE, 1943, MAEE Report H/Arm/Res/14.Google Scholar
44. Brown, W.S. Underwater ballistic research at Glen Fruin, 1945, MAEE Report H/Arm/Res/28.Google Scholar
45. Shaw, R.A. A preliminary report on the MAEE bomb firing tank, 1943, MAEE Report H/Arm/Res/11.Google Scholar
46. Shaw, A. B-bomb Mk II, Trials in the bomb firing tank, 1944, MAEE Report H/Arm/Res/21.Google Scholar
47. Shaw, R.A. Main tank trials of a depth charge, 1944, MAEE Report BFTN 6.Google Scholar
48. Shaw, R.A. 2501b A/S bomb type C — main tank tests, 1945, MAEE Report BFTN 13.Google Scholar
49. Shaw, R.A. Main tank tests of mine O Mk 7, 1944, MAEE Report BFTN 5.Google Scholar
50. Trials of B bombs, 1942, MAEE Report H/Arm/77.Google Scholar
51. Shaw, R.A. Hydrofoil ring bombs, 1944, MAEE Report BFTN 3.Google Scholar
52. Highball and Upkeep: trials at MAEE, 1943, MAEE Report H/Arm/101.Google Scholar
53. Shaw, R.A. A note on water impact and range performance of Highball. 1943, MAEE Report H/Arm/Res/15.Google Scholar
54. Shaw, R.A. Possible range of bouncing bombs, 1943, MAEE Report H/Arm/Res/6.Google Scholar
55.Rough-sea trials of Highball, 1944, MAEE Report H/Arm/101 D.Google Scholar
56 Highball trials MAEE Report, 1944, H/Arm/101 C.Google Scholar
57. Allen, J.E. and Forbes, R.H.D. A project design for a 150,0001b turbo-jet civil flying boat, July 1950, Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, Felixstowe. Report F/Res/217.Google Scholar
58. Designs and technical data, Saunders-Roe ‘Duchess’ (P 135) jet-propelled flying boat, 1946, Cowes, Isle of Wight.Google Scholar
59. Garner, H.M. Recent full Scale and Model Research on seaplanes, 14 October 1938, Jahrbuch der Deutschen Luftfahrtforschung — Ergaenzungsband, pp 357–373.Google Scholar
60. Garner, H.M. Early full-Scale research at Farnborough and Felixstowe, Aeronaut J, 1966, 70, (661), pp 95–97.Google Scholar
61. Ashley, S. Warp drive underwater, Sci American, May 2001, pp 62–71.Google Scholar
62. Allen, J.E. The next 75 years in aerospace, Flight Int, 21 Jan 1984, pp 166–171.Google Scholar
63. Dornier, C. The future of western security: a challenge and a response: ‘the 1,000 ton flying ship’, February 1984, RAeS London.Google Scholar
64. Allen, J.E. Quest for a New Force, Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 2003, Elsevier. To be published.Google Scholar