Supermarine Scapa

Supermarine
Industry	Aerospace, Defence
Founder	R. J. Mitchell (lead designer)
Products	Aircraft, including the Supermarine Scapa, Southampton, Stranraer, Nanok

The Supermarine Scapa was a British reconnaissance flying boat constructed by Supermarine and operated by the Royal Air Force from 1935 until 1939. It was an evolution of the Supermarine Southampton and served as the foundation for the subsequent Supermarine Stranraer.

Development

Following trials with the three-engine Supermarine Nanok, Supermarine's lead designer, R. J. Mitchell, opted to utilize the hydrodynamic hull design proven in the twin-engine Supermarine Southampton for his next project.

A prototype, initially named Southampton IV, was produced and demonstrated a hull performance that surpassed expectations during testing. The Air Ministry issued a specification in November 1931, and on 8 July 1932, test pilot Joseph "Mutt" Summers completed the prototype's maiden flight, by which time it had been renamed Scapa.

After manufacturing 15 units of the Scapa, production shifted towards its more powerful successor, the Supermarine Stranraer.

Design

File:Flight International Magazine 1935-06-27-pdf 0075.jpg

Cut-away illustration of the Scarpa from Flight magazine (June 1935)

The Scapa featured an all-metal hull structure, while its wings and tail surfaces combined metal framing with fabric covering. It was powered by two Rolls-Royce Kestrel V12 engines mounted in nacelles suspended beneath the upper wing. The tailplane included two fins positioned at mid-span on each side. Mirroring the Southampton's defensive setup, it had three gun stations: one located in the nose and two staggered along the rear fuselage, each equipped with a single .303 inch (7.7 mm) Lewis Mk.I machine gun.