Aircraft N248 Data

This aircraft was one of two S.6 seaplanes designed by R J Mitchell and built by the Supermarine Aviation Works at Woolston, Southampton for the 11th Schneider Trophy Contest of 1929. Two S.6 were ordered by the Air Ministry in 1928 (along with two Gloster VIs), designed to take the new Rolls Royce R engine.
Bearing the Race number '8' it was flown by Fg Off RLR Atcherley who was disqualified for turning inside one of the marker pylons. However, he did set up new World Speed Records for the 50 and 100 km closed circuits of 331 and 332 mph respectively. In 1931 it, together with its sister, N247, was modified to bring it up to the standard of the new S.6b aircraft being built for that year's contest, this involved fitting new, longer, floats, mass balances to the rudder and ailerons, stiffening the rear fuselage, adding extra radiator panels to the floats and fitting a more powerful Rolls Royce 'R' engine.
http://www.spitfireonline.co.uk/popup/exhibit12.html