Felixstowe Composite?

**clipper1801** · 08-21-2016 10:33

Found this today whilst surfing . . . identified as a Felixstowe Port Baby N.9800 with a Bristol scout on the top wing . . . any other information?

You know what the elves will do when they find out . . .

**csadn** · 08-21-2016 14:01

The flying boat is a Felixstowe *Porte* Baby, not "port" -- named for John Cyril Porte, commander of NAS Felixstowe, and the designer of the plane. It was a big, slow-moving target for German floatplane fighters, so it was kept as far as possible from places it might see combat.

The pic shows a test vehicle for deploying fighters against Zeppelins swiftly; a successful launch was completed 05/17/1916, but the idea was not proceeded with.

**clipper1801** · 08-21-2016 14:29

Originally Posted by csadn

The flying boat is a Felixstowe *Porte* Baby, not "port" -- named for John Cyril Porte, commander of NAS Felixstowe, and the designer of the plane. It was a big, slow-moving target for German floatplane fighters, so it was kept as far as possible from places it might see combat.

The pic shows a test vehicle for deploying fighters against Zeppelins swiftly; a successful launch was completed 05/17/1916, but the idea was not proceeded with.

That's good enough for me, I happen to know of a few approaching Zeppelins . . . how much different was the "Porte" than a standard Felixstowe?

**clipper1801** · 08-21-2016 14:47

So here is my answer to this Zeppelin menace, a trifecta of defense, I give you the Clipper Intercept Combo!

A destroyer towed lighter sporting a Felixstowe which quickly attains its max altitude and releases the parasite comic Camel to bring down the big nasty Zeppelin!

The penultimate combo also comes with fresh fish and chips on the way home!

**clipper1801** · 08-22-2016 13:51

The elves are proceeding on this one . . . : )

**RJG173** · 08-22-2016 14:14

Originally Posted by clipper1801

So here is my answer to this Zeppelin menace, a trifecta of defense, I give you the Clipper Intercept Combo!

A destroyer towed lighter sporting a Felixstowe which quickly attains its max altitude and releases the parasite comic Camel to bring down the big nasty Zeppelin!

I don't think the word quickly applies to this combo.

**csadn** · 08-22-2016 15:12

Originally Posted by clipper1801

That's good enough for me, I happen to know of a few approaching Zeppelins . . . how much different was the "Porte" than a standard Felixstowe?

Porte Baby:

General characteristics
Crew: 5
Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.21 m)
Wingspan: 124 ft (37.8 m)
Height: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
Wing area: 2,364 ft² (219.7 m²)
Empty weight: 14,700 lb (6,682 kg)
Loaded weight: 18,600 lb (8,455 kg)
Powerplant: 3 × Rolls-Royce Eagle VII V12 inline piston, 345 hp (257 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 87.5 mph (76 knots, 141 km/h) at 2,000 ft (610 m)
Service ceiling: 8,000 ft (2,440 m)
Climb to 6,500 ft (1,980 m): 25 min 5 s

Armament:
Guns: 3 × Lewis guns (1 in nose, 2 amidships)

F2A (hybrid of a Curtiss H-4 and Felixstowe F1):

General characteristics
Crew: 4
Length: 46 ft 3 in (14.1 m)
Wingspan: 95 ft 7½ in (29.15 m)
Height: 17 ft 6 in (5.34 m)
Wing area: 1,133 ft² (105.3 m²)
Empty weight: 7,549 lb (3,424 kg)
Loaded weight: 10,978 lb (4,980 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII V12 piston, 345 hp (257 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 95½ mph at 2,000 ft (83 knots, 154 km/h)
Service ceiling: 9,600 ft (2,926 m)
Wing loading: 9.69 lb/ft² (47.4 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.063 hp/lb (0.10 kW/kg)
Endurance: 6 hours
Climb to 2,000 ft (610 m): 3 min 50 s.
Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 39 min 30 s.

Armament
Guns: 4 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Guns, 1 in nose, 3 amidships
Bombs: Up to 460 lbs of bombs beneath wings