Short p.8
Short p.8 Calcutta | |
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Short p.8 Calcutta |
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Type: | Flying boat |
Design country: | |
Manufacturer: | |
First flight: |
February 14, 1928 |
Number of pieces: |
7th |
The Short S.8 (military name Short Calcutta ) was a biplane designed flying boat made by the British manufacturer Short Brothers in the 1920s. It could carry up to fifteen passengers and was mainly used between Europe and India .
history
The Calcutta was commissioned by Imperial Airways , which needed an aircraft for the Mediterranean section on the route to India. The S.8 was a further development of the Singapore , an aircraft developed for military purposes, and the first flying boat with a metal fuselage. The drive consisted of three Bristol Jupiter - radial engines that were installed between the wings. While the two pilots sat in an open cockpit, the radio navigator was in the passenger cabin.
The prototype made its first flight on February 14, 1928 . On July 27th he received his license and on August 9th he entered service with Imperial Airways. Together with four other Calcutta, it was mainly used on the route to Karachi .
Short Brothers built a total of seven S.8. The military version was named Rangoon . In 1934 the French company Breguet acquired a copy that was converted into the Breguet S.8 / 2 for the French Navy and largely corresponded to the Rangoon. Four other models were built under license from Breguet in Le Havre. The French later developed the improved version of the Breguet 521 Bizerte .
Technical specifications
Parameter | Data |
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crew | 4-5 |
Passengers | 12-15 |
length | 20.40 m |
height | 7.20 m |
span | 28.30 m |
Wing area | 171 m² |
Empty mass | 6,280 kg |
Takeoff mass | 10,200 kg |
Cruising speed | 156 km / h |
Top speed | 190 km / h |
Service ceiling | 4,000 m |
Range | 1,040 km |
Engines | three radial engines Bristol Jupiter -IXF each with 410 kW (557 PS) |