Supermarine S 6B

Specifications Supermarine S 6B blueprint

The Supermarine S 6B was a high performance aircraft developed for the Schneider Trophy competition in the late 1920s. It was a seaplane designed by the British Supermarine Aviation Company and powered by a Napier Lion engine. This aircraft was produced in limited numbers, making it a very rare and highly sought-after piece of aviation history. The S 6B was constructed with a mixed-material design, comprising a steel-tubing fuselage, wooden wings and tail, and fabric covering. It had an innovative design that was ahead of its time, being one of the first aircraft to utilize stressed-skin construction. It had a streamlined fuselage with slab-sided wings and tailplane that allowed it to fly quickly and efficiently with minimal drag. The aircraft was outfitted with a single, pusher-propeller mounted to the rear of the fuselage. This was linked to the main Napier Lion engine, which was capable of developing up to 750 horsepower. This provided the S 6B with enough power to break airspeed records, easily reaching a top speed of over 200 mph. It also had a range of over 200 miles. In terms of armament, the S 6B was equipped with two Vickers Mark V machine guns, each with a 500 round capacity, which were carried in the upper wing sections. Coupled with its agile maneuverability and strong performance, the S 6B was a formidable aircraft in its day and would go on to have a significant impact on the development of aviation.