Supermarine Solent

Supermarine

Industry	Aviation
Founded	1914
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Aircraft

The Supermarine Nanok was a British three-engine biplane flying boat produced by Supermarine. Designed in response to a Royal Danish Navy specification, the sole prototype was later transformed into a private air yacht and renamed the Supermarine Solent.

Development and design

The Nanok (meaning "Polar bear" in the Inuit language) was an evolution of Supermarine’s successful Supermarine Southampton flying boat, featuring three engines. It was created to satisfy a Danish demand for a torpedo-capable flying boat. The prototype was commissioned on 17 June 1926 and completed its maiden flight on 21 June 1927. However, the aircraft’s performance during evaluation fell short of expectations. Despite attempts at modification, it failed to meet the Danish requirements and was ultimately declined.

In 1928, the aircraft was rebranded as the Supermarine Solent and marketed as a torpedo bomber but did not attract buyers. Subsequently, it was converted into a civilian nine-seat air yacht for the brewing industrialist Ernest Guinness. This conversion was registered under G-AAAB in August 1928. It is believed that Guinness found the hull’s interior headroom insufficient, as he soon commissioned its successor, the all-metal Supermarine Air Yacht. The Solent was eventually deregistered and dismantled in 1934.

The designation 'Supermarine Solent' was also used for another distinct model, which combined the Southampton hull with the Nanok’s enlarged wings to create a fourteen-seat commercial transport. This version likewise failed to secure any sales.

Operational history

The Solent received its airworthiness certification on 5 September 1928 and was regularly operated on routes between England and the proprietor's residence near Lough Corrib in County Galway, Ireland. It continued in active service until it was dismantled in 1934.

Operators

Template:DEN

• Royal Danish Navy

Specifications (Nanok)

{{Aircraft specs |ref= Supermarine Aircraft since 1914 |prime units?=imp |crew=5 |length ft=50 |length in=6 |length note= |span ft=75 |span in=0 |span note= |height ft=19 |height in=6 |height note= |wing area sqft=1572 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight lb=10619 |empty weight note= |gross weight lb=16311 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= |eng1 number=3 |eng1 name=Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV |eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines |eng1 hp=430 |eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=wooden fixed-pitch propellers |prop dia ft=10 |prop dia in=0 |prop dia note= |max speed mph=113.5 |max speed note=at sea level

101.2 mph (88 kn; 163 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,048 m)

|cruise speed mph= |cruise speed note= |stall speed mph=64 |stall speed note= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed note= |range miles=640 |range note=for reconnaissance missions |combat range miles=240 |combat range note= |ferry range miles= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft=10920 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ftmin=607 |climb rate note= |time to altitude=

• 5,000 ft (1,524 m) in 10 minutes 20 seconds
• 10,000 ft (3,048 m) in 31 minutes

|lift to drag= |wing loading lb/sqft=10.4 |wing loading note=Template:Fix/category |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass=0.079 hp/lb (0.130 kW/kg)Template:Fix/category |}

Sources

• Andrews, Charles Ferdinand; Morgan, Eric B. Supermarine Aircraft since 1914. London: Putnam, 1987. ISBN 978-0-85177-800-6.
• Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 978-0-85177-818-1.
• Pegram, Ralph. Beyond the Spitfire: The Unseen Designs of R.J. Mitchell. Pegram: The History Press, 2016. ISBN 978-0-7509-6515-6.