Short_Triple_Twin Short_S.27

the triple twin

shorts airframe number s.39 given experimental twin-engined aircraft based on type s.27, triple twin. powered 2 50 hp gnome omega engines, 1 in front of nacelle driving pair of tractor propellers mounted on interplane struts, chain drive left-hand propeller crossed front propellers revolved in opposite directions, , second engine mounted behind trailing edge of lower wing driving pusher propeller. first built , flown wings of equal span, trailing edge ailerons fitted both upper , lower wings. first flown mcclean on 18 september 1911 , bought admiralty in june 1912, being given serial number t.3.

a number of modifications subsequently made aircraft. in december 1911 upper wings extended , fuel capacity increased: extensions removed in february, , fitted tandem twin. in october both upper , lower wings extended, giving wingspan of 50 ft (15 m), , top wing later further extended, giving upper span of 64 ft (20 m).

in 1913 s.39 rebuilt single-engined pusher without front elevator , similar tail unit production short s.38, balanced rudders. in form referred admiralty type 3, , had rather better performance standard type 38. top speed 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) , ceiling on 9,000 ft (2,700 m). among aircraft used in france rnas in months of first world war, being used communications aircraft.