Short Mayo Composite
aircraft
The
Short-Mayo Composite was the brain child of Major Mayo of Imperial
Airways. The thinking was that an aircraft was limited by the payload when
it took off, therefore if the upper component was 'overloaded' on
take-off, and it took off on the back of a mother or carrier aircraft the
payload and/or range would be increased. The concept was tested by
modifying the design of an Empire class flying boat (Maia, which had an
increased beam, thus increasing the planing surfaces, and increased span
centre section, so that the propellers of Maia cleared the floats of
Mercury), to lift a specially designed float plane (Mercury).
In operations the concept was flown by
Captain Don Bennett, who was later to achieve further fame with the RAF
Pathfinders. The long range concept was proven with non-stop flights from
Britain to Canada, and to South Africa. Mercury still holds the world
distance record for floatplanes. Sadly the aircraft were lost during World
War II.
builders |
Short Brothers (Rochester & Bedford) Ltd |
First Flight: |
27 July 1937 |
Lower component (Maia): |
1 - Shorts, Rochester |
Upper component (Mercury): |
1 - Shorts, Rochester |
Type Specification |
Applies to: |
Shorts Mayo Composite |
Type: |
Composite aircraft to design of Major
Mayo, comprising lightly loaded launch aircraft and highly loaded
mailplane which was released at cruising height
|
Wing: |
Both components - High wing cantilever
monoplane of all metal construction |
Hull: |
Lower component - All metal hull with two
step planing bottom
Upper component - All metal fuselage |
Tail Unit: |
Both - Cantilever type tailplane with
single fin and rudder |
Landing Gear: |
Lower - None
Upper - Twin floats under inboard engines
|
Power Plant: |
Lower - Four 900 hp Bristol Pegasus XC 9
cylinder radial air cooled engines on wing leading edge
Upper - Four 365 hp Napier-Halford Rapier VI 16 cylinder air cooled
engines on wing leading edge |
Accommodation: |
Lower - Flight crew of three. Cabin for
up to 18 passengers
Upper - Crew of two |
Dimensions |
Span: |
Lower - 114 ft
Upper - 73 ft |
Length: |
Lower - 84 ft 11 in
Upper - 51 ft |
Height: |
Unknown |
Wing Area: |
Lower - 1,750 sq ft
Upper - 611 sq ft |
Weights |
Empty: |
Lower - 24,745 lb
Upper - 10,163 lb |
All-up: |
Lower - 38,000 lb
Upper - 26,800 lb |
Performance |
Max Speed: |
Lower - 200 mph
Upper - 212 mph |
Ceiling: |
Lower - 20,000 ft |
Range: |
Lower - 850 miles
Upper - 6,100 miles (after composite launch) |
|