AD Flying Boat

Designed in 1915 by the British yacht designer Linton Hope,Bruce 1957, p.3. the aircraft was of conventional biplane flying-boat configuration, and also featured a biplane tail with twin fins and rudders. The pilot and observer sat in tandem in the nose, with the engine and pusher propeller mounted behind them, between the wings. The wings could be folded forwards to facilitate shipboard stowage.

Two prototypes were constructed in 1916 by Pemberton-Billing Ltd (later to become Supermarine Aviation Works). The first prototype was intended to be powered by a 150 hp (112 kW) Sunbeam Nubian engine, but as this was not ready to use, a {{convert|200|hp}} Hispano-Suiza 8 was substituted.Bruce 1957, p.4 The aircraft performed poorly both on the water and in the air, demonstrating severe fore and aft vibration during take-off, while subject to excessive yaw during flight. After these problems were solved by producing revised versions of the hull, and the fin and rudder, the AD Flying Boat was able to be ordered into production.Andrews and Morgan 1987, p.23.London 2003, p.20-23. A total of 80 aircraft were ordered, and 27 machines were built.Andrews and Morgan 1987, p.355. Examples were tested with Sunbeam Arab and Wolseley Python engines.

File:Supermarine Channel Det Norske Luftfartsrederi.jpg in 1920.]]

Following the Armistice, Supermarine purchased 19 of these AD Flying Boats to modify them for the civil market as the Supermarine Channel. The Channel I was powered with a {{convert|160|hp}} Beardmore 160 hp engines, and the Channel II was fitted with a {{convert|240|hp}} Armstrong Siddeley Puma engine. The reconfigured flying-boats provided accommodation for a pilot and three passengers in three open cockpits.

; {{CHL}}

• Chilean Air Force - One aircraft.
• Chilean Navy acquired one Channel with modified hull (similar to the Supermarine Seal II) in 1922.Andrews and Morgan 1987, p.40.

; {{JPN}}

• Imperial Japanese Navy purchased three Channels.

; {{NOR}}

• Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service purchased four Beardmore engined Channels in 1920, acquiring a further ex-civil aircraft. One remained in service until 1928.Andrews and Morgan 1987, pp.35-36.

; {{SWE}}

• Royal Swedish Navy purchased a single Channel in 1921, it being destroyed during testing.

; {{UK}}

• Royal Navy
• Royal Naval Air Service operated AD Flying Boat.

; {{NOR}}

• Det Norske Luftfartsrederi, Channel Mk INerdrum 1986, p.30.

{{Aircraft specs

|ref = British Aeroplanes 1914-18 Bruce 1957, pp.5-7.

|prime units? = imp

|crew = two, pilot and observer

|length ft = 30

|length in = 7

|upper span ft=50

|upper span in=4

|lower span ft=37

|lower span in=7+1/4

|height ft = 13

|height in = 1

|wing area sqft= 479

|aspect ratio =

|airfoil =

|empty weight kg =

|empty weight lb = 2508

|gross weight lb = 3567

|max takeoff weight kg =

|max takeoff weight lb =

|more general =

|eng1 number = 1

|eng1 name = Hispano-Suiza 8

|eng1 type = water-cooled V8 engine

|eng1 hp= 200

|prop name =

|prop dia m =

|prop dia ft =

|prop dia in =

|max speed mph = 100

|max speed note = at {{convert|2000|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|cruise speed kmh =

|cruise speed mph =

|cruise speed kts=

|cruise speed note =

|stall speed kmh =

|stall speed mph =

|stall speed kts =

|stall speed note =

|never exceed speed kmh =

|never exceed speed mph =

|never exceed speed kts =

|range km =

|range miles =

|range nmi =

|range note =

|endurance = 4{{frac|1|2}} hr

|ceiling ft = 11000

|ceiling note =

|time to altitude=30 min to {{convert|10000|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}

|climb rate ms =

|climb rate ftmin =

|climb rate note =

|guns = 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun on flexible mount for observer

|bombs = small bomb load

}}

• Sempill Mission

{{Aircontent

|related =

|similar aircraft =

|lists = *List of aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service

|see also =

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=Charles Ferdinand |last2=Morgan |first2=Eric B. |title=Supermarine Aircraft since 1914 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3NTAAAAMAAJ |date=1981|edition=|publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=978-03701-0-018-0 |ref=none}}
• {{cite book |last1=Bruce |first1=J. M. |title=British Aeroplanes 1914–18 |date=1957 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=978-03700-0-038-1 |ref=none }}
• {{cite book |last1=London |first1=Peter |title=British Flying Boats |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uKlTAAAAMAAJ |date=2003 |publisher=Sutton Publishing |location=Stroud, UK |isbn=978-0-7509-2695-9 |ref=none}}
• {{cite book |last1=Nerdrum |first1=Johan |title=Fugl Fønix: En beretning om Det Norske Luftfartselskap |date=1986 |publisher=Gyldendal Norsk Forlag |location=Oslo |isbn=82-05-16663-3 |language=Norwegian |ref=none}}

{{Air Department aircraft}}

{{Supermarine aircraft}}

{{Authority control}}

Flying Boat

Category:1910s British patrol aircraft

Category:Single-engined pusher aircraft

Category:Flying boats

Category:Supermarine aircraft

Category:Biplanes

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1916