An improved version of the Supermarine Seagull II, the Seagull III was specifically built for the Royal Australian Navy for operations from the seaplane tender HMAS Albatross. Compared to the Mk II, the Mk III had a more powerful engine ( a Napier Lion V while the Mk. II had a Lion III). The first six aircraft arrived in January 1926, with a further three arriving the following year.
The Seagulls were operated by No. 101 Flight RAAF, and initially worked with HMAS Moresby during 1926 and 1927, assisting in the photographic survey of the Great Barrier Reef. From February 1929 to April 1933, six of the Seagulls served on board HMAS Albatross, where they served as spotting, shadowing and reconnaissance aircraft. They were transferred to HMAS Canberra and HMAS Australia when Albatross became held in reserve in 1932. The Seagull IIIs were withdrawn from active service or scrapped in 1936; they were superseded by the Supermarine Seagull V.
Supermarine Seagull A9-1
Supermarine Seagull III A9-1 just after being builtSupermarine Seagull III A9-1 just after being builtSupermarine Seagull III A9-1 just after being builtSupermarine Seagull III A9-1
Supermarine Seagull A9-2
Supermarine Seagull III A9-2 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAFSupermarine Seagull III A9-2Supermarine Seagull III A9-2 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being lowered onto the deck of HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III A9-2
Supermarine Seagull A9-3
Supermarine Seagull III A9-3Supermarine Seagull III A9-3 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being hoisted out of the water and aboard HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III A9-3 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being lowered onto the deckSupermarine Seagull III A9-3
Supermarine Seagull A9-4
Supermarine Seagull III A9-4Supermarine Seagull III A9-4Supermarine Seagull III A9-4Supermarine Seagull III A9-4 being recovered
Supermarine Seagull A9-5
Supermarine Seagull III A9-5 being hoisted aboard HMAS CanberraSupermarine Seagull III A9-5 being hoisted aboard HMAS CanberraSupermarine Seagull III A9-5 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF which has just landed on the water and is about to be hoisted aboardSupermarine Seagull III A9-5 of101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF next to HMAS CanberraSupermarine Seagull III A9-5
Supermarine Seagull A9-6
Supermarine Seagull III A9-6Supermarine Seagull III A9-6Supermarine Seagull III A9-6Supermarine Seagull III A9-6Supermarine Seagull III A9-6 New Guinea. c. 1930Supermarine Seagull flying boat A9-6 being winched over the side from HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III A9-6 damaged aboard HMAS AustraliaSupermarine Seagull III A9-6 aboard HMAS Australia after being dropped from the craneSupermarine Seagull III A9-6 damaged aboard HMAS Australia
Supermarine Seagull A9-7
Supermarine Seagull A9-8
Supermarine Seagull III A9-8A Supermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF is about to be lowered into the hold. A9-8 in the backgroundSeveral Supermarine Seagull III A9-8 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF lined up on the top deck Supermarine Seagull III A9-8 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF is about to be hoisted aboard HMAS Albatross
Supermarine Seagull A9-9
Supermarine Seagull III A9-9 on HMAS Australia 21 Sep 1932Supermarine Seagull III A9-9Supermarine Seagull III A9-9 next to HMAS Australia
Supermarine Seagull Unidentified
Supermarine Seagull IIISupermarine Seagull IIISupermarine Seagull III flying boat taking off from North West Bay, TasmaniaSupermarine Seagull IIISupermarine Seagull IIISupermarine Seagull III on Survey flight
Supermarine Seagull III Amphibians Operating From HMAS Albatross
With its wings folded back, a Supermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF is about to be lowered into the holdSupermarine Seagull III A9-2 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being lowered onto the deck of HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III A9-3 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being lowered onto the deckSupermarine Seagull III A9-3 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being hoisted out of the water and aboard HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAFSeveral Supermarine Seagull III seaplanes of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF lined up on the top deckA Supermarine Seagull III seaplane of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAFSeveral Supermarine Seagull III seaplanes of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF Being Lowered into the HangerSupermarine Seagull III on HMAS AlbatrossA Supermarine Seagull III seaplane of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF is lowered into the hold of HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull flying boat A9-6 being winched over the side from HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull flying boat being brought up on to the deck of HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III Aboard HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III A9-5 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF which has just landed on the water and is about to be hoisted aboardSupermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAFSupermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF Supermarine Seagull III A9-8 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF is about to be hoisted aboard HMAS AlbatrossTwo Supermarine Seagull III seaplanes of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being hoisted out of the waterSupermarine Seagull III on the water next to HMAS AlbatrossHMAS Albatross
Supermarine Seagull III Amphibians Operating From HMAS Australia
Supermarine Seagull III on HMAS Australia 21 Sep 1932Supermarine Seagull III on HMAS Australia 21 Sep 1932Supermarine Seagull III on HMAS Australia 21 Sep 1932Supermarine Seagull III on HMAS Australia 21 Sep 1932Supermarine Seagull III A9-9 on HMAS Australia 21 Sep 1932Supermarine Seagull III A9-9 next to HMAS AustraliaSupermarine Seagull III A9-6 damaged aboard HMAS AustraliaSupermarine Seagull III A9-6 damaged aboard HMAS AustraliaSupermarine Seagull III A9-6 aboard HMAS Australia after being dropped from the crane
Supermarine Seagull III Amphibians Operating From HMAS Canberra
Seagull Amphibian 24 September 1921Supermarine Seagull III A9-5 of101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF next to HMAS CanberraSupermarine Seagull III A9-5 being hoisted aboard HMAS CanberraSupermarine Seagull III A9-5 being hoisted aboard HMAS CanberraHMAS Canberra and her Supermarine Seagull IIIHMAS Canberra, with HMAS Stalwart alongside, in January 1930 with Supermarine Seagull IIIs
Vultee XP-54 Swoose Goose resulted from United States Army Air Corps proposal R-40C issued on 27 November 1939 for aircraft with improved performance, armament, and pilot visibility over existing fighters; it specifically allowed for unconventional aircraft designs. Also designed to this request were the Curtiss XP-55 Ascender and the Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet.
Initially designed as a low-altitude interceptor, this was changed to a high-altitude interceptor. The resulting addition of a pressurized cockpit led to a unique pilot entry method, where the seat acted as an elevator. The seat was lowered and raised electrically while the pilot at it it. Bail out was also complicated by the pusher propellors and a downward firing ejector seat was installed.
Two prototypes were built (41-1210 and 42-108994, although the second was wrongly marked 42-1211). Performance fell short of design expectations, which combined with project delays and increased costs led to its cancellation. Both aircraft saw out their days as experimental airframes until a lock of spare parts led to their grounding.
Vultee XP-54Vultee XP-54Vultee XP-54 Vultee XP-54 front viewVultee XP-54 first prototypeVultee XP-54 first prototypeVultee XP-54 41-1210Vultee XP-54 first prototypeVultee XP-54 first prototype undergoing maintenanceVultee XP-54 41-1210Vultee XP-54 first prototypeVultee XP-54 first prototypeVultee XP-54 Swoose Goose first prototypeVultee XP-54 second prototypeVultee XP-54 Swoose Goose second prototypeVultee XP-54 42-1211 (actually 42-108994)Vultee XP-54 second prototypeVultee XP-54 second prototypeVultee XP-54 41-1211 (actually 42-108994)Vultee XP-54 second prototypeVultee XP-54 with propellor safety guard in placeVultee XP-54 entry hatchVultee XP-54 entry hatchVultee XP-54Vultee XP-54 Swoose Goose line drawing
The Republic XF-12 Rainbow was a four-engined reconnaissance aircraft designed for the USAAF. Designed during the Second World War, the first of two prototypes had its first flight on the 4th of February 1946.
On the 10th of July 1947, the first prototype had its right main gear severed at the engine nacelle while landing during maximum load tests. The aircraft bounced and the pilot took the aircraft up to a safe altitude. During the resulting crash landing, the right wing spar was cracked and the two starboard engines needed replacing. Republic repaired the XF-12 and it was returned to service.
The second prototype crashed on the 7th of November 1948 when the port inner engine exploded, causing violent buffeting. Five of the seven crew escaped safely while two crew members were killed.
With the end of the Second World War and the introduction of jet aircraft, the USAAF lost interest in the project. When no orders were received, flight testing of the remaining XF-11 was wound down and ceased in 1952.
Republic proposed an airliner version of the XF-12, called the RC-2. Although tentative interest was shown by several airlines, the projected operating costs were higher than competing aircraft and no RC-2s were built.
Full-scale mock-up of the XF-12Republic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow under constructionRepublic XF-12 Rainbow under constructionRepublic XF-12 Rainbow Nose Secion MockupRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow taking offRepublic XF-12 Rainbow 44-91002Republic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow Nacelle Republic XF-12 Rainbow NacelleRepublic XF-12 Rainbow NacelleRepublic XF-12 Rainbow first prototype accident 10 July 1947The first Republic XF-12 Rainbow prototype after crash-landing with two out of three gear down. It was later repaired and put back into the airRepublic XF-12 Rainbow first prototype accident 10 July 1947Republic XF-12 Rainbow, RC-3 Seabee and P-47 ThunderboltRepublic XF-12 Rainbow, RC-3 Seabee and P-47 ThunderboltRepublic XF-12 Rainbow camera installationRepublic XF-12 Rainbow undercarriageRepublic RC-2 Rainbow advertRepublic RC2 Rainbow cutaway diagramRepublic RC-2 Rainbow cockpit mockup
