Is it a plane or is it a boat?

Bob,

Thanks for the information, I have been meaning to contact the association as I have some other interesting Butterworth Pic’s, youv’e just jogged my memory, thanks again.

Ant.

If it doesn’t take off it is a boat…:D

I think in this case it is a boat, but something that takes off without capability of escaping ground effect, is a Ground Effect Machine (GEM).

Howard Stirling was Search & Rescue at Butterworth, as far as I know. There are a few members of the RAF Butterworth & Penang association who remember him
http://www.raf-butterworth-penang-association.co.uk/

I was there when that was built. (I was there with my father who was Met Office.)
According to later discussions with my father, it ended up at the bottom of the Andaman Sea because HS underestimated the acceleration on one outing and he and the machine parted company, it was last seen disappearing towards the horizon.
Rumour had it that HS also tried to build a helicopter powered by jet exhaust fed to tip jets on the rotor. (Never do anything the simple way!). As far as I know it was never finished.
BTW The engine for the boat *may* have been a ‘rescued’ Merlin though it doesn’t look big enough in the photo.

If it doesn’t take off it is a boat…:D

………….then there have been very many boats on wheels in the history of aviation!

Whoa! what a fantastic way to while away the hours, design and play with something like that!

If it doesn’t take off it is a boat…:D

Tell Elf & S’ty, no life vests, no ear protectors.:D That’s going to put a breeze through your hair!