Short Silver Streak

The Short Silver Streak was the first British all-metal aircraft.[1] It was designed and built by Short Brothers at Rochester, Kent, England.[1] Although Flight magazine claimed that it was the first instance of stressed skin construction in the world,[2] it was preceded by a number of Dornier designs, including the Dornier-Zeppelin D.I, which was ordered into production.[3][4]

Silver Streak
Role Experimental all-metal biplane
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Short Brothers
First flight August 20, 1920
Number built 1

Development

The Silver Streak was a single-seat biplane with a semi-monocoque duralumin fuselage and duralumin-covered wings.[1] The wing skin was not stressed.[5] The Silver Streak had a conventional landing gear and was powered by a 240 hp (180 kW) Siddeley Puma engine.[1] The Silver Streak was exhibited in July 1920 at the Olympia in London.[1] Registered G-EARQ, it was first flown at Grain on 20 August 1920 by test pilot J. L. Parker.[1] It was later modified as a two-seater and delivered to the Air Ministry in February 1921 for both flight and static testing.[1] The Air Ministry issued a specification for a two-seat reconnaissance biplane and Shorts produced the Springbok based on the Silver Streak.

Specifications
The Silver Streak at Farnborough in February 1921

Data from Jackson.[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one (later two)
  • Length: 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
  • Wingspan: 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
  • Wing area: 370 sq ft (34 m2) [6]
  • Empty weight: 1,865 lb (846 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,870 lb (1,302 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Siddeley Puma 6-cylinder water-cooled inline piston engine, 230 hp (170 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn)
  • Range: 450 mi (720 km, 390 nmi) [6]

See also

Related development

References

Notes
  1. Jackson 1973, p. 297.
  2. "The First Fifty Years" Flight 11 December 1953 p762
  3. Grosz, 1998, p.0
  4. Grey, 1970, p.573-581
  5. https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1938/1938%20-%203512.html
  6. Barnes 1967, p.168.

Bibliography
  • Barnes, C.H. (1967). Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam.
  • Jackson, A.J. (1973). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
  • Grosz, Peter (1998). Dornier D.I Windsock Minidatafile # 12. Hertfordshire, UK: Albatros Publications. ISBN 9780948414923.
  • Gray, Peter; Thetford, Owen (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (second ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 580.
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