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Type of aircraft From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Norman Thompson N.T.4 was a twin-engined British flying boat of the First World War. Although less well known than similar Curtiss and Felixstowe flying boats, 50 were ordered for Britain's Royal Naval Air Service.
| N.T.4 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| NT4A, February 1918. | |
| Role | Patrol Flying Boat |
| Manufacturer | Norman Thompson Flight Company |
| Designer | Francis Percy Beadle[1] |
| First flight | October 1916 |
| Introduction | 1916 |
| Retired | 1918 |
| Primary user | Royal Naval Air Service |
| Number built | 26 (N.T.4), 44 (N.T.4A), 2 (N2C) |
| Variants | Gosport Mail |
The White and Thompson company was formed by Norman Thompson and Douglas White in 1912 at Bognor Regis, Sussex to design and build aircraft.[2] It built several models of aircraft in small numbers, before being renamed the Norman Thompson Flight Company in September 1915.
The first aircraft to be produced by the renamed company was a twin-engined patrol flying boat, the Norman Thompson N.T.4. This was a three bay biplane powered by two pusher Hispano-Suiza engines mounted between the wings and was fitted with an enclosed, heavily glazed cockpit for its four-man crew.
An initial order for ten aircraft for the Royal Naval Air Service was placed in December 1915, with the first prototype flying in October 1916.[3] Further orders were placed in 1917 bringing the total ordered to 50. Production continued through 1917, but in 1918, following a change in policy on anti-submarine aircraft, the final contract for 20 aircraft was cancelled.[4] Total production was 26 aircraft, continuing until June 1918.[5]
Norman Thompson produced a revised design to meet the requirements of Admiralty Specification N.2C, to replace the N.T.4. This type, designated the Norman Thompson N.2C used the wings of the N.T.4 but with a new hull resembling that of the Porte/Felixstowe boats. Power was by two 200 hp (149 kW) Sunbeam Arab engines. The first prototype attempted to fly on 1 August 1918, but required changes to the hull before it was capable of take-off. Water handling remained poor, and the aircraft was tail heavy in flight. It was abandoned following the end of the war.[6]
The N.T.4 entered service with the RNAS in 1916,[7] being operated on anti-submarine patrols over the North Sea and English Channel but were mainly used for training, as larger aircraft were more suitable for patrol purposes.[8] Many of the aircraft produced in 1918 were delivered straight to storage and were never used.[4] Owing to its similarity in size to the Curtiss H-4, it shared the Curtiss flying boat's nickname of America, being renamed Small America when the larger Curtiss H-12 (known as Large America) and Felixstowe F.2 flying boats came into service.[9]
Data from British Naval Aircraft since 1912 [9]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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