Short 184 / 225

A three bay biplane with two spar wooden wngs and wooden fuselage, all fabric covered. Cnventional control surfaces with ailerons on all four wings. There were two main, flat bottomed, floats with a small float at each wingtip and under the tail. The wings folded for storage.

First entering service with the RNAS in early 1915, the Short 184 had a long career and remained fully active until the Armistice - more than 900 being completed. Its initial power plant of a 167kW / 225 hp Sunbeam gave rise to the often quoted designation Short 225. Several different engines were fitted during the production run.

The 184/225 was the first aircraft to sink a ship by torpedo when it attacked a Turkish troopship during the Gallipoli campaign.

This naval aircraft was the only floatplane to take part in the battle of Jutland in 1916, when one was used for reconnaissance. An official letter written to Messrs Short Bros with regard to the work performed by a Short 184 in spotting enemy ships during the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 stated: ' . . . the flight made by Flight Lieut Rutland, with Assistant Paymaster Trewin, as observer, which Sir David Beatty praises so highly, was carried out on a 225hp Short Seaplane.'

A number of Short 184s were taken on charge post-war by other countries.

At its Norwich factory Mann, Egerton & Co built 12 Short 184 or Mann, Egerton Type A seaplanes

Engine: One 225 hp / 194kW Sunbeam Maori
Length 40.6 ft. (12.37 m)
Wing span 63.5 ft (19.35 m)
Height: 4.11 m / 14 ft 6 in
Wing area: 63.92 sq.m / 688.03 sq ft
Weight empty 3,703 lb (1,679 kg)
Max take-off weight: 2433 kg / 5364 lb
Max speed: 88 mph (142 kmph)
Ceiling 9,000 ft (2,740 m) fully loaded
Endurance 2.75 hr
Seats: 2
Armament: One 7.7mm machine-gun, in rear cockpit
Bombload: One 14-in: (35 cm) torpedo, or 520 lb. (240 kg.) bombs