Short Singapore

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The Short Singapore was a British multi-engined biplane flying boat built after World War I. The Singapore name first appeared in the mid-1920s, on a one-off, twin-engined, record-breaking aircraft. The design was developed into two four-engined versions; the prototype Singapore II and production Singapore III. The latter became the Royal Air Force's main long-range maritime patrol flying boat of the 1930s and saw service against the Japanese with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II.

Design and development

The first large all-metal flying boat called a Singapore was the Short S.5 (military designation Singapore I). This was a metal-hulled development of the wooden-hulled Short Cromarty. This was a biplane design with single fin and rudder, originally powered by two Rolls-Royce Condor IIIA engines. One aircraft was built and first flew at Rochester on 17 August 1926, piloted by Shorts' Chief Test Pilot, John Lankester Parker. The type did not enter production, but was used by Sir Alan Cobham for a survey flight around Africa. Registered G-EBUP, it left Rochester on 17 November 1927 and arrived at the Cape on 30 March 1928, returning to Rochester on the 4 June 1928. It was...
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