393:
437:
415:
28:
239:
engine. The hull, which was again built by
Saunders of Consuta, accommodated two people side by side in an open cockpit in line with the leading edge of the wings, and had a curved, vee-profile planing bottom. The wings, of 41 ft (12.5 m) span, were unstaggered, with lateral control by
263:
attempting, with little success, to get the Bat Boat airborne. The Bat Boat was wrecked by a storm. A second Bat Boat soon followed, omitting the forward elevator, while a third aircraft was built using components of the first prototype, but with a 100 hp (75 kW)
275:
In 1914, Sopwith laid down a second pair of Bat Boats. These two aircraft had a similar layout to the first three aircraft, but were larger, having a span of 55 ft (16.76 m), and were powered by 200 hp
320:. It was badly damaged, however, sinking at its moorings on 23 August 1913, having to be rebuilt again by Sopwith's. After serving at several Naval Air Stations, it was destroyed in a gale at
346:
The
Circuit of Britain machine was subject to compulsory purchase by the RNAS following the outbreak of war. While it suffered engine problems, it remained in use until April 1915.
1503:
1066:
280:
engines. The first of these pair was displayed at the
Olympia Air Show in March 1914. Also in March, Sopwith commenced building a final Bat Boat to compete in the 1914
1000:
221:
who were experienced in the construction of power-boats, while the wings, of about 30 ft (9.15 m) span, were built at
Sopwith's flying school at
248:
was fitted to the front of the hull to supplement the normal elevator fitted to the tail. The new Bat-boat was assembled at
Sopwith's new factory at
993:
571:
336:
in July 1914, and for bomb dropping trials at
Calshot, being scrapped in February 1915 when it was found that its hull was badly rotted.
1448:
1205:
986:
314:
1660:
1598:
1230:
1670:
1645:
576:
1518:
1255:
339:
The first of the two
Salmson powered Bat Boats was purchased by the German Navy Air Service, being used as a trainer at
328:, on 21 November 1914. The third Bat Boat was also purchased by the RNAS in February 1914, and given the serial number
289:. This was similar to the Salmson powered Bat Boat exhibited at Olympia, but was powered by a 225 hp (168 kW)
1619:
971:
939:
364:
Amphibious version of Bat Boat Type 1, based on wreckage of first prototype and powered by
British built 100 hp
343:. The second Salmson powered Bat Boat was, after testing at Calshot of radio equipment, sold to Greece in July.
244:. The tail, which had no fixed fin, was carried on tailbooms connected to the wings, while an additional forward
225:. Although the aircraft was approaching completion by August 1912, it was abandoned and was never flown.
920:
877:
866:
851:
840:
829:
816:
1220:
1215:
306:
286:
1655:
368:
engine to compete for
Mortimer Singer prize. Refitted with Austro-Daimler engine before sale to RNAS.
290:
1225:
1009:
228:
Sopwith then produced a completely new design of flying boat, still called "Bat-boat", this time a
70:
449:
104:
956:
913:
898:
1184:
1573:
1174:
1650:
259:
The Bat-Boat was sent from
Olympia to Cowes for tests in March, with both Thomas Sopwith and
198:
1588:
821:
249:
229:
142:
36:
8:
1488:
245:
182:
149:
268:
engine and an amphibious undercarriage. Thus equipped, the third Bat Boat won the £500
1528:
1397:
1271:
405:
108:
1665:
1508:
1071:
967:
952:
935:
909:
894:
889:
191:
1593:
1563:
1418:
1413:
1240:
1235:
1106:
232:
1603:
1578:
1568:
1558:
1543:
1533:
1468:
1443:
1438:
1371:
1366:
1359:
1339:
1245:
1179:
1169:
1101:
1086:
1046:
1036:
1031:
358:
Two-seat, single-engined flying boat, powered by 90 hp Austro-Daimler engine
294:
269:
265:
253:
177:
374:
Enlarged version of bat boat, powered by 200 hp Salmson engine. Two built.
1624:
1493:
1478:
1463:
1458:
1385:
1210:
1148:
1127:
1056:
1051:
947:
442:
236:
210:
186:, to combine his interests in aviation and the sea. The resultant design was a
169:
165:
135:
60:
1639:
1553:
1548:
1538:
1523:
1498:
1453:
1392:
1378:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1317:
1132:
1096:
1091:
1081:
1061:
1041:
398:
218:
194:
1423:
1250:
1164:
380:
Improved version of Bat Boat Type 2, powered by 225 hp Sunbeam engine.
333:
310:
260:
241:
523:
14-cyl. 2-row water-cooled radial piston engine, 200 hp (150 kW)
1583:
1513:
1483:
1473:
1433:
1312:
1307:
1287:
1122:
1076:
520:
173:
138:
951:, Number Twenty, December 1982 – March 1983. Bromley, UK: Pilot Press.
427:
321:
282:
222:
153:
112:
365:
272:
prize for the first all-British amphibious aircraft on 8 July 1913.
978:
252:
early in 1913, and was displayed at the International Aero Show at
172:, also a keen yachtsman and power-boat racer, started design of a
27:
277:
206:
202:
187:
145:
420:
325:
214:
921:
Fighting Breed...Forty Years of Sopwith and Hawker Aircraft
340:
945:
Mason, Tim. "Tom Sopwith...and his Aeroplanes 1912–14".
176:, to be called the "Bat Boat" after a flying machine in
148:, the Bat Boat was the first successful flying boat and
152:
built in the United Kingdom, with examples used by the
141:
designed and built from 1912 to 1914. A single-engined
332:. It was used for a night flying demonstration at the
209:
sheeting sewn in place with copper wire) was built by
297:
led to cancellation of the Circuit of Britain race.
455:
1637:
572:List of aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service
904:Bruce, J. M. "The Sopwith Bat-Boats – Part 2"
994:
908:, September 1991, Vol 19 No. 9. London: IPC.
235:biplane powered by a 90 hp (67 kW)
35:The first Sopwith Bat Boat in the factory at
887:Bruce, J. M. "The Sopwith Bat-Boat" Part 1.
1001:
987:
893:, August 1991, Vol 19 No. 8. London: IPC.
731:
729:
727:
705:
703:
701:
665:
663:
661:
659:
657:
634:
632:
305:The second Bat-Boat was purchased by the
159:
934:. Stroud, UK: Sutton Publishing, 2003.
724:
538:70 mph (110 km/h, 61 kn)
1638:
698:
654:
629:
544:55 mph (89 km/h, 48 kn)
300:
982:
927:, 30 November 1951. pp. 677–696.
293:engine. However, the outbreak of the
287:Circuit of Britain race for seaplanes
1008:
966:. Letchworth, UK: Air Review, 1970.
884:, 6 February 1919, pp. 163–174.
577:List of flying boats and floatplanes
377:Bat Boat Type 2 (Circuit of Britain)
873:, 21 August 1914, pp. 873–875.
489:54 ft 0 in (16.46 m)
483:36 ft 6 in (11.13 m)
13:
847:, 21 March 1914. pp. 294–312.
495:10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
313:in June 1913, being allocated the
14:
1682:
878:"Milestones" The Sopwith Machines
964:Sopwith-The Man and his Aircraft
456:Specifications (Bat Boat Type 2)
435:
413:
391:
26:
1599:Special torpedo seaplane Type C
1231:Special torpedo seaplane Type C
795:
786:
774:
762:
750:
738:
712:
501:600 sq ft (56 m)
201:. The hull, which was made of
1661:Single-engined pusher aircraft
1211:Sopwith Pusher Seaplane/S PG N
836:, 30 August 1913. p. 967.
771:, 21 August 1914, pp. 873–875.
689:
676:
641:
616:
607:
594:
556:500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)
1:
1449:Circuit of Britain floatplane
1206:Circuit of Britain floatplane
747:, 21 March 1914, pp. 306–307.
582:
513:3,120 lb (1,415 kg)
507:2,300 lb (1,043 kg)
1671:Aircraft first flown in 1913
1646:1910s British sport aircraft
867:The "Round Britain" Machines
862:, 31 July 1914. p. 800.
825:, 12 July 1913, p. 762.
384:
213:, the shipbuilders based at
7:
841:The Olympia Exhibition 1914
626:, August 1991, pp. 486–487.
604:, August 1991, pp. 485–486.
560:
349:
156:and by Greece and Germany.
10:
1687:
817:Mortimer Singer £500 Prize
1612:
1406:
1300:
1280:
1264:
1193:
1157:
1141:
1115:
1024:
1017:
801:London 2003, pp. 264–265.
783:, 30 August 1913, p. 967.
311:Calshot Naval Air Station
34:
25:
20:
901:. pp. 484–487, 500.
71:Sopwith Aviation Company
830:Sopwith Batboat Wrecked
759:, 31 July 1914, p. 800.
721:, 12 July 1913, p. 762.
468:General characteristics
450:Royal Naval Air Service
256:in February that year.
105:Royal Naval Air Service
1504:Hispano-Suiza Triplane
1067:Hispano-Suiza Triplane
695:Robertson 1970, p. 33.
686:, August 1991, p. 500.
651:, August 1991, p. 487.
613:Robertson 1970, p. 31.
160:Development and design
199:tractor configuration
932:British Flying Boats
463:British Flying Boats
250:Kingston upon Thames
230:pusher configuration
164:In summer 1912, the
37:Kingston-Upon-Thames
916:. pp. 540–543.
301:Operational history
183:With the Night Mail
150:amphibious aircraft
101:Primary users
1221:Admiralty Type 138
1216:Admiralty Type 137
962:Robertson, Bruce.
856:Circuit of Britain
792:London 2003, p. 4.
735:London 2003, p. 9.
709:London 2003, p. 5.
638:London 2003, p. 3.
406:Kaiserliche Marine
109:Kaiserliche Marine
1633:
1632:
1296:
1295:
959:. pp. 74–80.
906:Aeroplane Monthly
890:Aeroplane Monthly
684:Aeroplane Monthly
649:Aeroplane Monthly
624:Aeroplane Monthly
602:Aeroplane Monthly
309:and delivered to
128:
127:
1678:
1656:Sopwith aircraft
1256:Schneider (1919)
1246:Schneider (1914)
1226:Admiralty Type C
1022:
1021:
1003:
996:
989:
980:
979:
802:
799:
793:
790:
784:
778:
772:
766:
760:
754:
748:
742:
736:
733:
722:
716:
710:
707:
696:
693:
687:
680:
674:
667:
652:
645:
639:
636:
627:
620:
614:
611:
605:
598:
531:
470:
441:
439:
438:
419:
417:
416:
397:
395:
394:
361:Bat Boat Type 1A
168:pioneer aviator
132:Sopwith Bat Boat
121:
57:
49:Type of aircraft
30:
18:
17:
1686:
1685:
1681:
1680:
1679:
1677:
1676:
1675:
1636:
1635:
1634:
1629:
1608:
1402:
1292:
1276:
1260:
1189:
1153:
1137:
1111:
1013:
1007:
977:
930:London, Peter.
806:
805:
800:
796:
791:
787:
779:
775:
767:
763:
755:
751:
743:
739:
734:
725:
717:
713:
708:
699:
694:
690:
681:
677:
668:
655:
646:
642:
637:
630:
621:
617:
612:
608:
599:
595:
585:
563:
527:
466:
458:
436:
434:
414:
412:
392:
390:
387:
371:Bat Boat Type 2
355:Bat Boat Type 1
352:
303:
295:First World War
270:Mortimer Singer
254:Olympia, London
190:, powered by a
180:'s short story
178:Rudyard Kipling
162:
119:
111:
107:
56:National origin
55:
50:
12:
11:
5:
1684:
1674:
1673:
1668:
1663:
1658:
1653:
1648:
1631:
1630:
1628:
1627:
1625:Thomas Sopwith
1622:
1616:
1614:
1610:
1609:
1607:
1606:
1601:
1596:
1591:
1586:
1581:
1576:
1571:
1566:
1561:
1556:
1551:
1546:
1541:
1536:
1531:
1526:
1521:
1516:
1511:
1506:
1501:
1496:
1491:
1486:
1481:
1476:
1471:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1451:
1446:
1441:
1436:
1431:
1426:
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1416:
1410:
1408:
1404:
1403:
1401:
1400:
1395:
1389:
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1381:
1375:
1374:
1369:
1363:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1321:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1304:
1302:
1301:By designation
1298:
1297:
1294:
1293:
1291:
1290:
1284:
1282:
1278:
1277:
1275:
1274:
1268:
1266:
1262:
1261:
1259:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1197:
1195:
1191:
1190:
1188:
1187:
1185:Two-Seat Scout
1182:
1177:
1172:
1167:
1161:
1159:
1158:Scouts/bombers
1155:
1154:
1152:
1151:
1145:
1143:
1142:Torpedo bomber
1139:
1138:
1136:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1119:
1117:
1113:
1112:
1110:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1054:
1049:
1044:
1039:
1034:
1028:
1026:
1019:
1015:
1014:
1006:
1005:
998:
991:
983:
976:
975:
960:
948:Air Enthusiast
943:
928:
917:
902:
885:
874:
863:
848:
837:
826:
812:
811:
810:
804:
803:
794:
785:
773:
761:
749:
737:
723:
711:
697:
688:
675:
673:, 1982, p. 75.
671:Air Enthusiast
653:
640:
628:
615:
606:
592:
591:
590:
589:
584:
581:
580:
579:
574:
562:
559:
558:
557:
554:Rate of climb:
551:
550:4 hours 30 min
545:
539:
536:Maximum speed:
525:
524:
514:
508:
502:
496:
490:
484:
478:
457:
454:
453:
452:
446:
445:
443:United Kingdom
431:
430:
424:
423:
409:
408:
402:
401:
386:
383:
382:
381:
378:
375:
372:
369:
362:
359:
356:
351:
348:
302:
299:
237:Austro-Daimler
211:S. E. Saunders
170:Thomas Sopwith
161:
158:
126:
125:
122:
116:
115:
102:
98:
97:
94:
90:
89:
86:
82:
81:
78:
74:
73:
68:
64:
63:
61:United Kingdom
58:
52:
51:
48:
45:
41:
40:
32:
31:
23:
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1683:
1672:
1669:
1667:
1664:
1662:
1659:
1657:
1654:
1652:
1649:
1647:
1644:
1643:
1641:
1626:
1623:
1621:
1620:Herbert Smith
1618:
1617:
1615:
1611:
1605:
1602:
1600:
1597:
1595:
1592:
1590:
1587:
1585:
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1580:
1577:
1575:
1572:
1570:
1567:
1565:
1562:
1560:
1557:
1555:
1552:
1550:
1547:
1545:
1542:
1540:
1537:
1535:
1532:
1530:
1527:
1525:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1515:
1512:
1510:
1507:
1505:
1502:
1500:
1497:
1495:
1492:
1490:
1487:
1485:
1482:
1480:
1477:
1475:
1472:
1470:
1467:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1445:
1442:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1411:
1409:
1405:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1390:
1387:
1384:
1383:
1380:
1377:
1376:
1373:
1370:
1368:
1365:
1364:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1322:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1306:
1305:
1303:
1299:
1289:
1286:
1285:
1283:
1281:Sports tourer
1279:
1273:
1270:
1269:
1267:
1265:Ground attack
1263:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1198:
1196:
1192:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1162:
1160:
1156:
1150:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1140:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1120:
1118:
1114:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1050:
1048:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1035:
1033:
1030:
1029:
1027:
1023:
1020:
1016:
1011:
1004:
999:
997:
992:
990:
985:
984:
981:
973:
972:0-900435-15-1
969:
965:
961:
958:
954:
950:
949:
944:
941:
940:0-7509-2695-3
937:
933:
929:
926:
922:
919:King, H. F. "
918:
915:
911:
907:
903:
900:
896:
892:
891:
886:
883:
879:
875:
872:
868:
864:
861:
857:
855:
849:
846:
842:
838:
835:
831:
827:
824:
823:
818:
814:
813:
808:
807:
798:
789:
782:
777:
770:
765:
758:
753:
746:
741:
732:
730:
728:
720:
715:
706:
704:
702:
692:
685:
679:
672:
666:
664:
662:
660:
658:
650:
644:
635:
633:
625:
619:
610:
603:
597:
593:
587:
586:
578:
575:
573:
570:
569:
568:
567:
566:Related lists
555:
552:
549:
546:
543:
542:Cruise speed:
540:
537:
534:
533:
532:
530:
522:
518:
515:
512:
511:Gross weight:
509:
506:
505:Empty weight:
503:
500:
497:
494:
491:
488:
485:
482:
479:
476:
473:
472:
471:
469:
464:
462:
451:
448:
447:
444:
433:
432:
429:
426:
425:
422:
411:
410:
407:
404:
403:
400:
399:German Empire
389:
388:
379:
376:
373:
370:
367:
363:
360:
357:
354:
353:
347:
344:
342:
337:
335:
331:
327:
323:
319:
316:
315:serial number
312:
308:
298:
296:
292:
288:
285:
284:
279:
273:
271:
267:
262:
257:
255:
251:
247:
243:
238:
234:
231:
226:
224:
220:
219:Isle of Wight
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
195:rotary engine
193:
189:
185:
184:
179:
175:
171:
167:
157:
155:
151:
147:
144:
140:
137:
133:
123:
118:
117:
114:
110:
106:
103:
100:
99:
95:
92:
91:
87:
85:Introduction
84:
83:
79:
77:First flight
76:
75:
72:
69:
67:Manufacturer
66:
65:
62:
59:
54:
53:
46:
43:
42:
38:
33:
29:
24:
19:
16:
1651:Flying boats
1589:Three-seater
1428:
1200:
963:
946:
931:
924:
905:
888:
881:
870:
859:
853:
844:
833:
820:
809:Bibliography
797:
788:
780:
776:
768:
764:
756:
752:
744:
740:
718:
714:
691:
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670:
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467:
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459:
345:
338:
334:Fleet Review
329:
317:
304:
281:
274:
261:Harry Hawker
258:
242:wing warping
227:
181:
163:
139:flying boats
131:
129:
120:Number built
15:
1574:1½ Strutter
1489:Grasshopper
1175:1½ Strutter
529:Performance
521:Salmson 2M7
517:Powerplant:
174:flying boat
47:Flying boat
1640:Categories
1529:Salamander
1272:Salamander
854:Daily Mail
583:References
548:Endurance:
499:Wing area:
428:Greek Navy
322:Scapa Flow
283:Daily Mail
223:Brooklands
154:Royal Navy
113:Greek Navy
1613:Designers
1509:L.R.T.Tr.
1360:3F.2 (II)
1194:Seaplanes
1072:L.R.T.Tr.
957:0143-5450
914:0143-7240
899:0143-7240
487:Wingspan:
461:Data from
385:Operators
366:Green E.6
307:Admiralty
39:c. 1913.
21:Bat Boat
1666:Biplanes
1594:Triplane
1564:Sociable
1429:Bat-Boat
1419:Atlantic
1414:Antelope
1355:3F.2 (I)
1241:Type 860
1236:Type 807
1201:Bat-Boat
1107:Triplane
1025:Fighters
1012:aircraft
561:See also
350:Variants
246:elevator
205:, (i.e.
93:Retired
1604:Wallaby
1584:Tadpole
1579:Tabloid
1569:Swallow
1559:Sparrow
1544:Snapper
1534:Scooter
1519:Rainbow
1469:Dolphin
1444:Bulldog
1439:Buffalo
1407:By name
1180:Tabloid
1170:Sparrow
1116:Bombers
1102:Swallow
1087:Snapper
1047:Dolphin
1037:Bulldog
1032:Buffalo
1018:By role
1010:Sopwith
682:Bruce,
669:Mason,
647:Bruce,
622:Bruce,
600:Bruce,
493:Height:
481:Length:
291:Sunbeam
278:Salmson
233:two-bay
217:on the
207:plywood
203:Consuta
188:biplane
166:British
146:biplane
136:British
134:s were
1494:Gunbus
1479:Dragon
1464:Cuckoo
1459:Cobham
1149:Cuckoo
1128:Cobham
1057:Gunbus
1052:Dragon
970:
955:
938:
925:Flight
912:
897:
882:Flight
871:Flight
860:Flight
845:Flight
834:Flight
822:Flight
781:Flight
769:Flight
757:Flight
745:Flight
719:Flight
440:
421:Greece
418:
396:
326:Orkney
143:pusher
1554:Snipe
1549:Snark
1539:Snail
1524:Rhino
1499:Hippo
1454:Camel
1372:2FR.2
1133:Rhino
1097:Snipe
1092:Snark
1082:Snail
1062:Hippo
1042:Camel
588:Notes
475:Crew:
266:Green
215:Cowes
197:in a
192:Gnome
96:1915
88:1913
80:1913
44:Role
1474:Dove
1424:Baby
1398:TF.2
1393:TF.1
1379:FS.1
1367:FR.2
1350:8F.1
1345:7F.1
1340:5F.1
1335:4F.1
1330:2F.1
1318:2B.2
1251:Baby
1165:Baby
968:ISBN
953:ISSN
936:ISBN
910:ISSN
895:ISSN
852:The
519:1 ×
341:Kiel
130:The
1514:Pup
1484:Gnu
1434:Bee
1386:T.1
1325:F.1
1313:B.2
1308:B.1
1288:Gnu
1123:B.1
1077:Pup
923:".
880:".
869:".
858:".
843:".
832:".
819:".
330:118
1642::
726:^
700:^
656:^
631:^
324:,
318:38
124:6
1002:e
995:t
988:v
974:.
942:.
876:"
865:"
850:"
839:"
828:"
815:"
477:2
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