The AD Navyplane was designed by the British Admiralty's Air Department as a reconnaissance aircraft for use during World War I. Performance of the prototype was so disappointing that plans to produce it were cancelled almost immediately.

The Navyplane was designed by the Admiralty's Harold Bolas with the assistance of R.J. Mitchell of Supermarine. It was a seaplane of unusual biplane configuration – the pilot and observer being seated in a streamlined nacelle mounted in the gap between the upper and lower sets of wings. The Smith Static inline engine (later AR-1 rotary engine) and a pusher propeller were installed behind them.

Tests of the Supermarine-built prototype commenced in August 1916 but soon proved seriously underpowered and unsatisfactory. The design was abandoned and the second prototype was never completed.

Specifications (AD Navyplane)

General Characteristics

• Crew: two, pilot and observer
• Length: 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)
• Wingspan: 36 ft (10.97 m)
• Height: 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
• Wing area: 364 ft² (33.8 m²)
• Empty: 2,100 lb (952 kg)
• Loaded: lb ( kg)
• Maximum takeoff: 3,102 lb (1,157 kg)
• Powerplant: 1x Smith Static inline engine, 150 hp (112 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 64 mph (104 km/h)
• Range: 384 miles (624 km)
• Service ceiling: 1,300 ft (396 m)
• Rate of climb: 66 ft/min (216 m/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
• Power/Mass:

Armament

• 1x .303 Lewis machine gun on flexible mount for observer

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