One of aviations unsung and largely forgotten types, today (7th June) marks the 70th anniversary of the first flight of the twin Merlin engined Short Sturgeon S.1 prototype RK787.
First flown by Shorts Brothers test pilot Geoffrey Tyson from the company’s airfield at Rochester in Kent, it was originally conceived as a torpedo / strike / reconnaissance bomber but the end of the war with Japan meant there was no longer a need for it. However its potential as a two man crew high speed target tug for the Royal Navy had already been taken into consideration and the third prototype was built as the TT.2 (TT standing for Target Tug) prototype, VR363, now spouting a long ungainly looking nose housing the recording cameras and somewhat spoiling its previous good looks.
Although equipped to be operated from aircraft carriers this was never employed operationally except in trials, and all Sturgeons were land based primarily with 728 NAS (771 and 703 also used the Sturgeon but to a far lesser extent). When the need for potential carrier operations and photographic duties came to an end it was redesigned as the TT.3, a much more pleasant looking aircraft with the long nose now deleted and replaced with a shorter type reminiscent of the original prototypes profile. Also now void of any carrier equipment the Sturgeon continued to be flown by 728 squadron from Hal-Far in Malta and was generally very well liked by its crews who spent hour upon hour flying back and forth allowing naval gunners to hone their skills by firing at its towed target.
A total of just 28 Sturgeons were built, and the type continued in service until 1958 when it was replaced in the target tug role by the Meteor TT.20.
No complete examples have survived into preservation!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]246362[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]246363[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]246364[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]246365[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]246366[/ATTACH]
Rob
By: TempestV - 7th June 2016 at 12:11
One of aviations unsung and largely forgotten types, today (7th June) marks the 70th anniversary of the first flight of the twin Merlin engined Short Sturgeon S.1 prototype RK787.
First flown by Shorts Brothers test pilot Geoffrey Tyson from the company’s airfield at Rochester in Kent, it was originally conceived as a torpedo / strike / reconnaissance bomber but the end of the war with Japan meant there was no longer a need for it. However its potential as a two man crew high speed target tug for the Royal Navy had already been taken into consideration and the third prototype was built as the TT.2 (TT standing for Target Tug) prototype, VR363, now spouting a long ungainly looking nose housing the recording cameras and somewhat spoiling its previous good looks.Although equipped to be operated from aircraft carriers this was never employed operationally except in trials, and all Sturgeons were land based primarily with 728 NAS (771 and 703 also used the Sturgeon but to a far lesser extent). When the need for potential carrier operations and photographic duties came to an end it was redesigned as the TT.3, a much more pleasant looking aircraft with the long nose now deleted and replaced with a shorter type reminiscent of the original prototypes profile. Also now void of any carrier equipment the Sturgeon continued to be flown by 728 squadron from Hal-Far in Malta and was generally very well liked by its crews who spent hour upon hour flying back and forth allowing naval gunners to hone their skills by firing at its towed target.
A total of just 28 Sturgeons were built, and the type continued in service until 1958 when it was replaced in the target tug role by the Meteor TT.20.
No complete examples have survived into preservation!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]246365[/ATTACH]Rob
Nice looking aircraft in this variant.
By: Wyvernfan - 7th June 2016 at 10:38
Indeed. Best not go there.
Rob
By: Supermarine305 - 7th June 2016 at 09:38
No mention of the SB.3 varient? Why is that?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]246367[/ATTACH]
Oh yeah, now I remember. 😀
By: Sopwith - 7th June 2016 at 08:21
Interesting, never noticed before that they had contra rotating props.
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June 7, 2016 at 7:58 am