Saro A.21 Windhover

За Saro A.19 Cloud последовала очень похожая летающая лодка A.21 Windhover, построенная в единственном экземпляре. По размерам этот самолет занимал промежуточное положение между A.17 Cutty Sark и A.19. Экипаж состоял из двух человек, пассажировместимость составляла ДальшеMore>>> шесть человек.
   Возможность установки трех моторов исследовалась на второй лодке A.19 Cloud, на ней установили три мотора de Havilland Gipsy II мощностью по 120 л. с. Над двигателями смонтировали дополнительные аэродинамические поверхности. Лодка Windhover использовалась в 1931-1938 годах.

Flight, October 1930

THE SARO "WINDHOVER'

   As briefly reported last week, test flights were recently carried out with a new commercial flying boat constructed by Saunders-Roe, Ltd., of Cowes. We are now able to give some brief particulars and illustrations of this machine, and in a future issue of FLIGHT we hope to describe it in greater detail.
   The Saro "Windhover" - the machine in question - is the intermediate member of the Saro Amphibian family, i.e., the "Cutty Sark" and "Cloud," with which our readers are, no doubt, familiar. It is a metal-hull flying boat equipped with three D.H. "Gipsy II" engines, and accommodating six passengers. The "Windhover" was designed to meet the demand for a three-engined machine capable of carrying a good commercial pay load and, the smaller "Cutty Sark" having proved so successful, it was decided to adhere as closely as possible to that design.
   The six passengers are located in a comfortable saloon which is spacious, light and airy, with a separate observation window provided for each person.
   Although the machine is a standardised production structurally, allowances have been made to install any suitable engines, whilst the constructors are always prepared to arrange the interior to suit special requirements, and with this end in view, requests have been made to arrange these types of craft for military and naval purposes.
   The machine illustrated - which is being supplied to Dominion Airways, Ltd., for operation in New Zealand - was launched at East Cowes on October 16, and tested on that and the following day. On October 22 it was flown to Felixstowe, the machine being in charge of Capt. Scott, Saro's experimental test and design-development pilot. This craft will fly strongly on any two of the three Gipsy II engines that are installed in the present machine, and directional control during taxying (with two outboard motors running slowly) is remarkably effective.
   It may be added, in conclusion, that this machine is provided with terminal fittings, so that a retractable land chassis may be fitted when desired.

Flight, November 1932

British Aircraft

Saunders-Roe, Limited
Cowes, Isle of Wight

   FROM the time Sir Alliott V. Roe and Mr. John Lord joined forces with Mr. H. E. Saunders, the firm of Saunders-Roe has pursued a vigorous policy of flying-boat development. During a period of a few years no less than four distinct types of flying boat have been produced, of which three are civil types, the fourth a military machine.
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   Next in size comes the Saro "Windhover". This is a six-seater flying boat fitted with three de Havilland Gipsy II engines of 120 h.p. each. The data of the “Windhover” are:
   Length o.a. 41 ft. 4 in. (12,6 m.)
   Wing span 54 ft. 4 in. (16,55 km.)
   Wing area 450 sq. ft. (41,8 m'.)
   Tare weight 3,650 lb. (1 660 kg.)
   Pay load 1,030 lb. (468 kg.)
   Gross weight 5,600 lb. (2 545 kg.)
   Maximum speed 110 m.p.h. (177 km./h.)
   Cruising speed 90 m.p.h. (145 km./h.)
   Range 360 miles (500 km.)