Saunders Severn

The Saunders A.7 Severn was a three-engined biplane flying boat intended for maritime patrol duties, designed to Air Ministry specification R.4/27. It was the last flying boat designed by S. E. Saunders Ltd before the takeover by A. V. Roe and John Lord that produced the Saunders-Roe company, and it is also referred to as the Saunders/Saro Severn, the Saunders-Roe A7 and the Saro A7. It was the second Saunders aircraft to use the patented corrugated hull structure, and it was a sesquiplane with three 490 horsepower Bristol Jupiter XI radial engines. The Severn first flew in July 1930 and began a test programme with the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe that August. It performed well but was fragile and unreliable, with serious faults such as a failed central engine mounting and cracks in the hull. Only one was built, it was judged not practical for Service use, and no orders followed.