Scapa
A Supermarine Scapa at theMAEE atFelixstowe, in 1933
General information
Type	Reconnaissanceflying boat,
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers), Ltd.
Designer	R.J. Mitchell
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Number built	15
History
Introduction date	1935
First flight	1932
Retired	1939
Developed from	Supermarine Southampton
Developed into	Supermarine Stranraer

TheSupermarine Scapa was a British general reconnaissanceflying boat built bySupermarine that was used by theRoyal Air Force between 1935 and 1939. It was developed from theSouthampton and formed the basis of theSupermarine Stranraer.

After experimenting with a three-engine design offlying boat, theNanok,Supermarine's chief designerR. J. Mitchell decided that thehydrodynamic design developed in the twin-enginedSupermarine Southampton, would be suitable for the next aircraft.

A prototype, designated the Southampton IV, was built. It had ahull that exceeded expectations in tests. AnAir Ministry Specification was received in November 1931. The test pilotJoseph "Mutt" Summers took first flew the prototype on 8 July 1932, by which time the name of the type had been changed to Scapa.

After 15 Scapas were built, production was changed to a more powerful development, theSupermarine Stranraer.

The Scapa's hull was an all-metal structure, while the wing and tail surfaces had metal structure with fabric covering. The twoRolls-Royce KestrelV12 engines were mounted innacelles underslung from the upper wing, and there were twofins, each placed at the mid semi-span of thetailplane. Similar to the Southampton, there were three gun positions: one in the nose, and two staggered in the rear fuselage. Each provided with a single.303 British (7.7 mm) caliberLewis Mk.I machine guns.

 United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force
  • No. 202 Squadron RAF
  • No. 204 Squadron RAF
  • No. 228 Squadron RAF
  • No. 240 Squadron RAF

Data from Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 5
• Length: 53 ft 0 in (16.15 m) on beaching gear
• Wingspan: 75 ft 0 in (22.86 m)
• Height: 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m) on beaching gear
• Wing area: 1,300 sq ft (120 m²)
• Empty weight: 10,030 lb (4,550 kg)
• Gross weight: 16,080 lb (7,294 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 ×Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIIMS V-12 liquid-cooled piston engines, 525 hp (391 kW) each
• Propellers: 2-bladed wooden fixed-pitch propellers

Performance

• Maximum speed: 142 mph (229 km/h, 123 kn) at 3,280 ft (1,000 m)
• Cruise speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m)
• Alighting speed: 64 mph (56 kn; 103 km/h)
• Range: 1,000 mi (1,600 km, 870 nmi) with 2,650 lb (1,202 kg) military load
• Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4,700 m)
• Rate of climb: 625 ft/min (3.18 m/s)
• Time to altitude: 9,840 ft (2,999 m) in 20 minutes
• Wing loading: 12.3 lb/sq ft (60 kg/m²)^{[citation needed]}
• Power/mass: 0.065 hp/lb (0.107 kW/kg)^{[citation needed]}

Armament

• Guns: 3 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm)Lewis guns, one in bow and two amidships
• Bombs: 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombload under the wings

Related development

• Supermarine Southampton
• Supermarine Stranraer

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Hall PH
• Hiro H1H
• Hiro H2H
• Naval Aircraft Factory PN

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
• List of flying boats and floatplanes

• Andrews, C. F.; Morgan, Eric B. (1981).Supermarine Aircraft since 1914. London: Putnam.ISBN 978-03701-0-018-0.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toSupermarine Scapa.

• Hillman, Jo·; Higgs, Colin (2020).Supermarine Southampton: The Flying Boat that Made R. J. Mitchell. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Books Limited.ISBN 978-15267-8-497-1.
• Shelton, John (2008).Schneider Trophy to Spitfire: The Design Career of R. J. Mitchell. Sparkford: Hayes Publishing.ISBN 978-1-84425-530-6.

• 1930s British military reconnaissance aircraft
• Flying boats
• Supermarine aircraft
• Biplanes
• Aircraft first flown in 1932
• Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft
• Twin-tail aircraft

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