Can anyone give me a crash course please in the differences between a Supermarine S-6, an S-6A and an S-6B?
For example, references talk of ‘aerodynamic refinements’ between the S-6A and S-6B, but all I can see with the untutored eye is an apparently more interference-drag prone wing/fuselage junction with the ‘later’ model.
There are some papers that are ‘out there’ behind a paywall that I am thinking of investing in. These were the NPL wind tunnel reports between 1927 and 1931 on the various UK Schneider Cup entries. In a 1930 lecture to the RAE Mitchell said he wasn’t at liberty to talk about what they came up with – but it was something to do with interference drag there is no doubt, as this is the bit that makes no sense in the version that got released to the US in 1931, so evidently was ‘redacted’. I am working on an idea.. but before spending the kids’ college fund I need to know whether the different S6 models were in fact subtly different shapes.
Anyone? Schneiderman? All help gratefully received and added to the ‘beers owed’ list.
By: Beermat - 12th April 2017 at 08:30
Unfortunately Mitchell said he couln’t discuss the wind tunnel results, and it’s that very discussion I need.. PM now sent.
Great book, by the way!
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th April 2017 at 07:29
Yes, that is correct. R&M 1300 is a very comprehensive report and does indeed include wind tunnel assessment of individual components and assemblies. You may also wish to look for a copy of Mitchell’s RAeS paper from 1928 as that has a number of tables showing the percentage drag produced by each major part of the aircraft.
By: Beermat - 11th April 2017 at 22:28
Thanks. It is looking like it’s the 1927 tests I need, so that’s R&M 1300 – the key development in interference drag reduction was with the S-5 and not the S-6 as I thought. This is from ‘Flight’..
[ATTACH=CONFIG]252495[/ATTACH]
PM on way.
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th April 2017 at 21:12
The wind tunnel research undertaken in 1929 was never published but is available at the National Archives (report T3000), as are a number of related studies on radiators etc. The shorter 1931 research was published as R&M 1575. If I can help you with anything just drop me a PM.
By: Beermat - 11th April 2017 at 20:31
Many, many thanks for that. Saves me time on one red herring, at least!
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th April 2017 at 20:11
No, fuselage, wings and tail were all unchanged from 1929. I don’t know what they imply by aerodynamic improvements, there was a relatively minor decrease in drag from the floats but most of the redesign was focussed on buoyancy and better handling on the water.
By: Beermat - 11th April 2017 at 19:48
So no aerodynamic improvements between 1929 S-6 and 1931 S-6B? Or was the reduced drag often referred to – as here – http://www.baesystems.com/en//en/heritage/supermarine-s6 – due to the float redesign?
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th April 2017 at 19:44
Two S6 aircraft constructed in 1929, registered N247 and N248
In 1931 both aircraft fitted with new floats (as Type 186, S6A) which were basically lengthened versions of the 1929 floats to improve buoyancy and also fitted with surface radiators. N247 lost in a fatal crash, N248 now at Solent Sky museum in Southampton.
Two new aircraft constructed in 1931 as S1595 and S1596, with larger fin oil tanks and strengthening around float struts. Completely new float design with all-over surface radiators. Designated Type 187, S6B. S1596 damaged in landing accident and later scrapped. S1595 now in the Science Museum, London.
By: Beermat - 11th April 2017 at 18:36
Great stuff – especially the construction pictures – and the further reference to interesting wind tunnel stuff that Mitchell nor the authors could divulge only makes me even more curious. But sadly not what I am really after – namely Aeronautical Research Council Memoranda Nos. 1281, 1296, 1297, 1298, 1299 and 1311 (also published as an ARC Monograph, No. 1300, ‘Collected reports on British high speed aircraft for the Schneider Trophy Contest of 1927’) and Monograph 1575 ‘Collected reports on British high speed aircraft for the 1931 Schneider Trophy Contest. With an introduction by H. M. Garner’. All mysteriously and annoying missing from the usual AERADE /ARC and NACA online sources for these reports. Unless anyone can find them??
By: Sabrejet - 11th April 2017 at 18:09
Have you seen this:
https://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19930090264
https://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19930090650
https://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19930090265
Just in case your ‘pay’ files are in fact available gratis…
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April 11, 2017 at 5:42 pm