imported>Aerohydro: /* References */ Added author link for Philip Jarrett

2024-12-13T22:42:21Z

References: Added author link for Philip Jarrett

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = Springbok I / II / Chamois
|image = Springbok-chb171.jpg
|caption = Springbok I prototype (J6974), Martlesham Heath 1923
|type = Two-seater biplane
|manufacturer = [[Short Brothers]]
|designer = [[Oswald Short]]
|first_flight = S.3 (Springbok I): 19 April 1923 S.3a (Springbok II): 25 March 1925 S.3b (Chamois): 14 March 1927
|introduction =
|retired =
|status =
|primary_user = [[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment]] (A&AEE), [[RAF Martlesham Heath|Martlesham Heath]]
|more_users = 
|produced =
|number_built = 2 (S.3 Springbok I) 3 (S.3b Springbok II) 1 (S.3b Chamois)
|unit cost =
|variants =
}}

The '''Short Springbok''' was a two-seat, all-metal reconnaissance [[biplane]] produced for the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Air Ministry]] in the 1920s. All together six aircraft of the Springbok design were built but none entered service with the armed forces.

==Design==
The Springbok [[fuselage]] was of streamlined [[monocoque]] construction mounted onto the lower wing and almost filling the gap between the upper and lower wings. The wings were single-bay, of unequal span and unequal chord, constructed of steel spars with an [[aluminum]] (S.3/3a Springbok) / fabric covering (S.3b Chamois). The [[aileron]]s were on the upper wing only. The crew of two sat in tandem open cockpits, with a cutout in the upper mainplane for the pilot's head; the observer/gunner sat behind the pilot, just behind the upper wing. The tail unit comprised a braced monoplane tail near the fuselage top with a single fin and rudder. The [[Landing gear|undercarriage]] was of the cross-axle type, situated under the nose and complemented by a tailskid at the rear.

==History==
===Springbok===
The Springbok traces its history from the pioneering, all-metal [[Short Silver Streak]], which was exhibited at the [[Olympia Aero Show]] in 1920. The Air Ministry had purchased the Silver Streak and subjected it to structural tests for two years at R.A.E., Farnborough. When in due course the Air Ministry issued a "[[Bristol F.2 Fighter|Bristol Fighter]]-replacement" [[List of Air Ministry Specifications|Specification 19/21]], [[Short Brothers]] contracted to deliver two S.3 Springbok I two-seat reconnaissance biplanes (''J6974'' and ''J6975''). On 30 November 1923, the second of the two prototypes, ''J6975'', crashed near [[Martlesham]] when it spun in shortly after takeoff, killing the pilot. The cause was diagnosed as rudder blanking during spinning and a new wing design was prepared for the Springbok Mk. II, of which six examples – later reduced to three – were ordered in 1924.<ref>{{Harvnb|Mason|1992|pp=159–160}}</ref>

[[File:SSpringbok.jpg|thumb|left|Springbok at Martlesham with fabric-covered wings]]
Powered by a 400 hp [[Bristol Jupiter]] IV [[radial engine]], the S.3 Springbok I was an all-metal aircraft, with a [[duralumin]] monocoque fuselage and two-bay, equal-span wings. The strength/weight factor of the mainplanes was disappointing and the Air Ministry ordered three more Springboks with lighter, fabric-covered wings attached directly to the lower fuselage and a redesigned tail assembly. The first of these S.3a Springbok IIs (numbered ''J7295''-''J7297'') was flown by Shorts' Chief [[test pilot|Test Pilot]] [[John Lankester Parker|J. Lankester Parker]] at the [[Isle of Grain]] on 25 March 1925.

===Chamois===
The S.3b Chamois was produced in response to [[List of Air Ministry Specifications|Specification 30/24]] (as was the [[Vickers Vespa]]), which while still intended to replace the Bristol Fighter, was intended for the army cooperation role.<ref name="amp43">{{harvnb|Jarrett|1996|p=43}}</ref><ref name="mbp192">{{harvnb|Mason|1994|p=192}}</ref> It was decided to modify the first Springbok II (J7295) to meet the new specification. The fuselage and Jupiter IV engine was retainer, but new single-bay wings were provided. These fabric-covered wings had steel box [[Spar (aeronautics)|spars]] rather than the tubular spars used by the Springbok, while the upper wings used a thicker airfoil section (RAF 32) which allowed the fuel tanks to be housed completely Within the wings.<ref name="amp434">{{harvnb|Jarrett|1996|pp=43–44}}</ref><ref name="barnesp206">{{harvnb|Barnes|1967|p=206}}</ref> A single fixed forward-firing [[Vickers machine gun]] was operated by the pilot, while a flexibly mounted [[Lewis gun]] was provided for the observer. Four {{convert|20|lb|kg|abbr=on}} or two {{convert|112|lb|kg|abbr=on}} bombs could be carried on underwing racks.<ref name="amp47">{{harvnb|Jarrett|1996|p=47}}</ref>

[[File:SChamois.jpg|thumb|Short Chamois]]
The Chamois' first flight took place at [[Lympne Airport|Lympne Aerodrome]] on 14 March 1927, also flown by Lankester Parker.<ref name="amp45">{{harvnb|Jarrett|1996|p=45}}</ref> It was delivered to the [[RAF Martlesham Heath|Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE)]] at Martlesham Heath, on 27 April 1927 for testing by [[No. 22 Squadron RAF|22 Squadron]], the RAF unit responsible for test flying for the A&AEE,<ref name="amp46">{{harvnb|Jarrett|1996|p=46}}</ref> although the competition for Specification 30/24 had already been decided and the [[Armstrong Whitworth Atlas]] ordered into production.<ref name="mbp192"/> While it was noted that the aircraft was easy to maintain,<ref name="mbp192"/> testing revealed several major problems, with a very poor view from the cockpit and poor directional control, particularly at low speeds.<ref name="amp467">{{harvnb|Jarrett|1996|pp=46–47}}</ref> The aircraft was also reported to be very noisy, with the monocoque fuselage being described as acting like a "[[kettle drum]]".<ref name="mbp192"/> The testing concluded that the Chamois was unsuitable for use as an Army Cooperation Aircraft or for other service use, and the Chamois was scrapped following completion of testing at Martlesham.<ref name="amp47"/>

==Operators==
; {{UK}}
* [[RAF Martlesham Heath|Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE)]]

==Specifications (Springbok I)==

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Shorts Aircraft since 1900<ref name="Barnes p173">{{Harvnb|Barnes|1967|p=173}}</ref>
|prime units?=imp

|genhide=

|crew=2
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=26
|length in=11
|span m=
|span ft=42
|span in=0
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=463
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=4080
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=

|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name= [[Bristol Jupiter IV]]
|eng1 type=air-cooled 9-cylinder [[radial engine]]
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=425
|eng1 note=<ref>{{Harvnb|Mason|1992|p=160}}</ref>
|eng1 kn=
|eng1 lbf=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=
|eng1 lbf-ab=
|more power=

|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=121
|max speed kts=
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|more performance=

|guns= 
**1× fixed, forward-firing .303 in (7.7mm) [[Vickers machine gun]]<ref name="Barnes p169">{{Harvnb|Barnes|1967|p=169}}</ref>
**2× .303 in (7.7mm) [[Lewis gun]]s on [[scarff ring]] in rear cockpit<ref name="Barnes p169"/>
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Short Silver Streak]]
|similar aircraft=

|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force]]
|see also=
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

*{{cite book |last= Barnes |first=C. H. |title= Shorts Aircraft since 1900 |year=1967 |publisher= Putnam |location= London }}
*{{cite magazine |last=Jarrett |first=Philip |author-link=Philip Jarrett |title=Limited Editions |magazine=[[Aeroplane Monthly]] |date=November 1996 |volume=24 |issue=11 |pages=42–47 |issn=0143-7240}}
*{{cite book |last=Mason |first=Francis K. |title=The British Fighter since 1912 |year=1992 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland, USA |isbn=1-55750-082-7 }}
*{{cite book |last=Mason |first=Francis K. |title=The British Bomber since 1914 |year=1994 |location=London |publisher=Putnam |isbn=0-85177-861-5}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

{{Short Brothers aircraft}}

[[Category:1920s British military reconnaissance aircraft]]
[[Category:Short Brothers aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1923]]

Short Springbok - Revision history

imported>Aerohydro: /* References */ Added author link for Philip Jarrett