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| The first Supermarine Seagull was a converted Seal fitted with a more powerful Napier Lion II engine. Production began with six wooden Seagull Is for the Fleet Air Arm, these being deployed on board the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle from 1923 to 1925. They were subsequently transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force, which used them to continue aerial survey work started by a flight of Fairey IIIDs in 1924. Two more
The Supermarine Seagull, first ordered by the Air Ministry in 1922, literally kept the company afloat until orders for other designs came along.
batches of five and 13 aircraft were ordered for service with the Royal Navy. Two Supermarine Seagulls took part in the King's Cup Air Race of 1924, one being forced to
make an emergency landing on the old racecourse at Blaydon-on-Tyne when the propeller shattered.
| MODEL | Supermarine Seagull I |
| CREW | 3 |
| ENGINE | 1 x 450hp Napier Lion pusher engine |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 2477 kg | 5461 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 13.99 m | 46 ft 11 in |
| Length | 10.51 m | 35 ft 6 in |
| Height | 4.11 m | 14 ft 6 in |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 129 km/h | 80 mph |
| Ceiling | 2743 m | 9000 ft |
| ARMAMENT | 1 x 7.7mm machine gun |
| Barry, 18.09.2012 12:14 Looking at the photographs,I have to say that this is the most unusual "pusher" engine. Is the plane in the upper phto flying backwards? reply | | Pete Andre, e-mail, 11.01.2010 17:16 Hi Josette,
The aircraft, almost certainly, was Supermarine Seagull, G-AAIZ of the Jersey airline "Tour and Travel Limited". T&T flew between Southampton (Woolston) and the Channel Islands in the summer of 1929.
The route was closed by Imperial Airways in February 1929 when its Calcutta flying boats were transferred to the Mediterranean for the opening of the United Kingdom-India service.
With the withdrawal of Imperial Airways, the Jersey company Tour and Travel Association proposed to re-start the service between Southampton and Jersey – calling at St Peter Port (Guernsey) when requested. The Supermarine Seagull, G-AAIZ was purchased and was eventually granted its C of A on July 10th 1929. Flying commenced the next day when it departed Woolston at 14:00, arrived St Peter Port at 16:00, and with 6 passengers (a wedding party) it departed for Jersey and arrived there at 18:45. There was no service between 8th August and 30th August while IZ was repaired after striking a rock during take-off at a low spring tide outside St Helier. On 2nd September the pilot S Kirsten landed off Southsea with engine trouble and taxied all the way inshore. This was the last flight of Tour and Travel.
In summer of 1929 T&T had been Britain's only domestic airline.
Hope this helps....if you are able to digitise your pic I would love to see it. I am currently trying to write (for my own personal satistfaction) a history of aviation in the island of Guernsey from WW1 to the present day. So far I have not found any pictures of G-AIIZ anywhere.
Best Regards
Pete Andre reply |
| Josette Fancourt, e-mail, 29.10.2007 12:48 I have recently acquired a photo of my grandparents standing next to what appears to be the above seaplane with its wings folded back, photo probably taken c1920 /30 on the pier in Jersey CI. Can only see the following ID:- G-AA and ...OUR TRAVEL A L. Would love to know more about the history behind the photo. Can you help please? reply |
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COMPANY
PROFILE
All the World's Rotorcraft
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My Granddad flew Supermarine Seagull G-AAIZ regularly until that last flight had to land at Southsea beach around 2000hrs September 2nd before ending with Tours & Travels Assoc.Ltd. Then started up Kirsten & Mace Amphibious Airlines Ltd and flew his Saro Cutty Sark “Silver Bat” from St Helier to Woolston having briefly been the test pilot at Saunders-Roe.
Many adventures prevailed…
Best regards!
Chris Kirsten.
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