72018 SUPERMARINE N.1B BABY

Supermarine Baby was a British prototype biplane boat from the First World War. The prototype flight took place in 1918, but the machine did not enter production. The plane was 8.02 meters long with a wingspan of 9.29 meters. The drive was provided by a single Hispano-Suiza 8 engine with 200 HP. The maximum speed of the aircraft reached 187 km / h. It was assumed that the machine would be armed, but the prototypes built did not have permanent on-board armament. Supermarine Baby was commissioned by the Royal Navy, which aimed at the end of World War I to obtain a flying boat capable of hunting missions and intercepting enemy seaplanes or just flying boats. In addition, the new machine was to be compatible with Royal Navy aviation tenders. However, after the flight of the machine, the British Admiralty withdrew from the idea and some of the tasks dedicated to the Supermarine Baby machine were taken over by Sopwith Pup and Camel fighters. However, Supermarine Baby served as the basis for the development of the Supermarine Se King machines and - especially - the Supermarine Sea Lion I.