The Seamew Story Film

Shorts films

Rather late … I’m sure that Shorts would assist you with the film(s) – the PR department perhaps. You could also try Holywood Films, who produced The Uncle Jack. For details info on the Seamew see the Putnam book “Shorts Aircraft since 1900” by Barnes and James.

There is another Seamew advert, in addition to the one posted by Avion Ancien.

It is on the extremely useful Aviation Ancestry website.

http://www.aviationancestry.com/Aircraft/Shorts/

Click on Seamew 1954

If you want more nostalgia on the top LHS go back to Ads Index and waste away a few more hours.

There is nothing like this forum to bring back memories from years past. I remember the Seamew so well and saw it at Farnborough in, perhaps, 1953/4. And certainly nothing to do with the Gannet, which I always rather liked and enjoyed seeing again at Duxford the other week.

AS has been said, The Seamew was in part a victim of the 1957 cuts that saw the disbandment of the R Aux. AF and the RNVR flying branch, the latter having been due to fly the Seamew from escort carriers and partly the move to helicopters for the ASW mission at this time. Just as the new generation jets were thought to be too hot for the RAux AF part timers, it was considered that helicopters would be too much for reservists. With the ending of the flying branch, the Seamew was surplus to requirements.

Apparently the Seamew was too slow, aileron and elevator response at slow speeds was poor with all controls said to be badly harmonised and over balanced, exactly what you don’t need in a carrier aircraft.

The type seems to be a prime example of the inverse of “if it looks right, it’ll fly right”.

Apparently the Rolls Royce Heritage does have a Seamew engine.

Oh, dear – this is really addictive! Thanks!:p

I seem to recall that in the Cobham Hall facility the FAAM have a pair of Seamew undercarriage oleos.

Short Seamew info

Due to the ongoing interest in the Short Seamew i hope that the following sites provide more information to those interested.

http://www.v-like-vintage.net/en/photo_details/92265_photo_Short+Seamew/new_pics/

http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/short_seamew.php

Mk.2 Pixs?

Anyone have a good Mk.2 pix. All I’ve found is this one background pix which could or could not be Mk.2.
Putnam has XE175 which went to RN to conv to AS.1. The only one’s should b XE173/4. Would like a pix showing the enlarged wheels. Which would be the main easy to see difference.

Sincerely

Chris

The Seamew on film

In addition to “The Uncle Jack”, short sequences of the Seamew can also be seen in “Farnborough – The Golden Years 1949 – 1959”.

I’m sure that John Davis of Holywood Films would help with a copy of “The Uncle Jack”. The Seamew sequence in the film, taken from a Shorts archive film, lasts 1’44”. It shows the Seamew starting a slow roll to the left and then, while inverted, plunging nose-down to the ground. Wally Runciman, who had over 10,000 hours of 50 aircraft types, was not inexperienced; it is inconceivable that he would have made a simple error in that situation, since he had flown the Seamew on its maiden flight in 1953, at Farborough in ’53, ’54 and ’55, had demonstrated it around Europe and certainly had more hours on the Seamew than any other pilot. To my inexperienced eye, the accident report’s conclusion that the cause was pilot error is not borne out by the film. It looks more like material failure to me (elevator?).

Hi Sky Dancer.. see post no 4 above. The member SB6 may be able to help on some of those points.

Hi there,

A few queries that maybe someone can help me with.

I have a personal interest in this crash – several of my family members worked at Shorts at various times. It was suggested that Wally Runciman had a lucky charm, which he forgot to take with him on that ill-fated flight. Has anyone heard this, or is it urban myth/legend?

Secondly, can anyone identify the area of the crashsite on the airfield?

Thirdly, in a case like this, i.e. military airframe, operated by the manufacturer, – who investigates the crash? AAIB or RAF?

Lastly, has anyone been able to get a copy of the film “The Uncle Jack”?

Hope someone can help,

Regards,
Michael

Seamew “too slow”

This was actually a design requirement, hence the relatively large wing-area and the small penalty of the fixed undercarriage. Perhaps it took a longer time to reach the area to be searched, but once there it would have been able to loiter with intent, listening to its sonar buoys, dropping depth charges accurately etc. Long-range helicopters changed the situation, of course.

This six page ‘Flight’ aticle is the most detailed description of the Seamew that I have seen, and includes articles from its designer David Keith-Lucas, W.J.Runciman its test pilot, aswel as many photos and cutaway drawing, http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1956/1956%20-%200081.html

Seamew artwork

The same artwork as used on the Flight cover that super sioux posted , this time from The Aeroplane.

Seamew Story

Hi Super Sioux

The first picture is a composite. That picture of the Seamew was ‘added’ in for effect!!

But the article from ‘Flight’ is very interesting as I think that it gave the most details of the aircraft, including details of the ‘two stage extending tailwheel’. The article also had a cutaway diagram showing the watertight ‘floor’ for ditching at sea. In that event the undercarriage could be jettisioned using an explosive charge!!

Short Seamew

[ATTACH]173752[/ATTACH]

Here are a few items from the Flight magazines of 1954.
Ray [ATTACH]173753[/ATTACH][ATTACH]173751[/ATTACH]

Hi Avion Ancien

Thanks for your interest and copy of the Seamew Ad. There was a series of similiar advertisements running at this time. It would nice if we could get a full set.

Here is a Flight advert. from 12 March 1954. Is this a darkroom trick? Or a brave pilot!
Ray

Hi Avion Ancien

Thanks for your interest and copy of the Seamew Ad. There was a series of similiar advertisements running at this time. It would nice if we could get a full set.

I came across this advertisement whilst I was reading, yesterday evening, and thought of this thread. I hope that it’s of interest.

Hi Wyvernfan

I don’t think there is any bits of the aircraft, though there might be an engine around. When I think about it, 50 years ago my friends and I used to sneak into the airfield at the week ends ( it closed at weekends) and play in all the scrapped Firebrands, Fireflys and Barracudas. In amongst that lot were some of the Seamews and one Sturgeon TT2. If I had realised their value I should have grabbed some pieces then!!!