Saro Cloud
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| A.19 Cloud | |
|---|---|
| Type | Flying boat |
| Manufacturer | Saunders-Roe |
| Maiden flight | 1930 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 22 |
The Saro Cloud was a British passenger flying boat designed and built by Saunders-Roe as the A.19 and later produced as the A.29[1] for the Royal Air Force for pilot and navigator training.
Contents |
[edit] Development
Following on from the success of the A.17 Cutty Sark the company designed an enlarged version designated the A.19 Cloud. It had room for a crew of two and eight passengers and like the Cutty Sark was a twin-engined biplane flying boat with two engines strut-mounted above the top wing. The design allowed for flexibility in engine fits and a four aircraft were sold to private operators with different engines fitted.
First flown in 1930 the prototype was fitted with two 300 hp (224kW) Wright J-6 radial engines. The Air Ministry ordered a prototype and 16 production aircraft for the Royal Air Force as pilot and navigator trainers. With room for a crew of two and the former luxury cabin replaced with chart tables for training six navigators at a time.
[edit] Variants
- A.19/1
- Prototype registered G-ACBJ with 300 hp (224 kW) Wright J-6 radial engines, sold in Canada but returned to Saro in 1934 for use as an engine test bed. It was fitted with 340 hp Napier Rapier IV engines and an auxiliary aerofoil behind and below the engine nacelles. It was loaned to Jersey Airlines in 1935 before being withdrawn from use in 1936.
- A.19/2
- Special variant powered by three 215 hp Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC engines and registered G-ABHG. Due to problems with the engine installation it was re-engined with two 425 hp (317 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp C radials before delivery. It was also fitted with an auxiliary aerofoil above the engines and twin fins and rudders to improve directional control. Sold to Imperial Airways in 1940 as a crew trainer but damaged beyond repair in 1941 and scrapped.
- A.19/3
- Prototype for the Royal Air Force with serial K2681 and powered by two 340 hp (254 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Serval III radials. It was followed by seventeen production aircraft for the RAF.
- A.19/4
- Registered G-ABXW with 300 hp (224 kW) Wright J-6 radial engines was used on services between Glasgow and Belfast and later used by Guernsey Airways until lost off Jersey on 31 July 1936.
- A.19/5
- Powered by two Armstrong Siddeley Serval III and registered G-ACGO. First flown in 1933 it went on a sales tour of Europe and was sold to the Czechoslovak State Airline and was re-engined with Walter Pollux radials.
- A.29
- Production run of RAF aircraft
[edit] Operators
[edit] Civil operators
Private individuals in Canada and the United Kingdom and the following commercial operators:
- Czechoslovak State Airline
- British Flying Boats
- Guernsey Airlines
- Imperial Airways
- Jersey Airways
[edit] Military operators
[edit] Specifications (A.29 Cloud)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbit Publishing, 2879.
General characteristics
- Crew: two pilots
- Capacity: 4 to 8 trainees depending upon role[2]
- Length: 50 ft 11½ in (15.28)
- Wingspan: 64 ft (19.51 m)
- Height: 16 ft 5 in (5)
- Wing area: 650 ft² (60.39 m²)
- Empty weight: 6,800 lb (3,804 kg)
- Loaded weight: 9,500 lb (4,310 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Armstrong Siddeley Serval III radial piston engine, 340 hp (254 kW) or A.S. Serval V of same power each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 118 mph (190 km/h)
- Range: 380 miles (612 km)
- Service ceiling 14,000 ft (4,265 m)
- Rate of climb: 455 ft/min[3] () initial
* Endurance: 4 hoursArmament
- Guns: Provision for 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis machine guns in bow and rear postions
- Bombs: 4 x 50lb (22.7kg) practice bombs
[edit] See also
Related lists
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing, 2879.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10014 X.
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