The Norman Thompson N.T.4 was a twin-engined

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flying boat of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. Although less well known than similar Curtiss and Felixstowe flying boats, 50 were ordered for Britain's Royal Naval Air Service.

Development and design

The White and Thompson company was formed by Norman Thompson and Douglas White in 1912 at

Bognor Regis Bognor Regis (), sometimes simply known as Bognor (), is a town and seaside resort in West Sussex on the south coast of England, south-west of London, west of Brighton, south-east of Chichester and east of Portsmouth. Other nearby towns i ...

, Sussex to design and build aircraft.Goodall 1995, pp. 7–8. It built several models of aircraft in small numbers, before being renamed the

Norman Thompson Flight Company The Norman Thompson Flight Company was a British aircraft manufacturer specialising in the construction of flying boats. It was formed as the White and Thompson Company in 1912, and designed and built the Norman Thompson NT.4 patrol aircraft a ...

in September 1915. The first aircraft to be produced by the renamed company was a twin-engined patrol flying boat, the Norman Thompson N.T.4. This was a three bay biplane powered by two pusher Hispano-Suiza engines mounted between the wings and was fitted with an enclosed, heavily glazed cockpit for its four-man crew. An initial order for ten aircraft for the Royal Naval Air Service was placed in December 1915, with the first prototype flying in October 1916.Goodall 1995, pp.44–45. Further orders were placed in 1917 bringing the total ordered to 50. Production continued through 1917, but in 1918, following a change in policy on anti-submarine aircraft, the final contract for 20 aircraft was cancelled.Goodall 1995, p.49. Total production was 26 aircraft, continuing until June 1918.Goodall 1995, pp.49,53. Norman Thompson produced a revised design to meet the requirements of Admiralty Specification N.2C, to replace the N.T.4. This type, designated the Norman Thompson N.2C used the wings of the N.T.4 but with a new hull resembling that of the Porte/Felixstowe boats. Power was by two 200 hp (149 kW) Sunbeam Arab engines. The first prototype attempted to fly on 1 August 1918, but required changes to the hull before it was capable of take-off. Water handling remained poor, and the aircraft was tail heavy in flight. It was abandoned following the end of the war.London 2003, pp.39–40.

Operational history

The N.T.4 entered service with the RNAS in 1916, being operated on anti-submarine patrols over the

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and

English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" (Cotentinais) or ( Jèrriais), (Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kana ...

but were mainly used for training, as larger aircraft were more suitable for patrol purposes.Goodall 1995, p.47. Many of the aircraft produced in 1918 were delivered straight to storage and were never used.Goodall 1995, p.49. Owing to its similarity in size to the Curtiss H-4, it shared the Curtiss flying boat's nickname of ''America'', being renamed ''Small America'' when the larger

Curtiss H-12 The Curtiss Model H was a family of classes of early long-range flying boats, the first two of which were developed directly on commission in the United States in response to the £10,000 prize challenge issued in 1913 by the London newspaper, t ...

(known as ''Large America'') and Felixstowe F.2 flying boats came into service.Thetford 1978, p.266-267

Variants

;N.T.4 :Initial batch of six aircraft. Powered by two 150 hp Hispano-Suiza engines. ;N.T.4A :Main production type. Powered by 200 hp geared Hispano-Suiza engines. 44 built. ;N2C :Improved version with hull similar to Felixstowe flying boats, powered by two Sunbeam Arab engines. Two prototypes only built in 1918.Donald 1997, p. 695

Operators

; * Royal Naval Air Service

Specifications (N.T.4A)

Notes

References

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External links

Norman Thompson N.T.4
British Aircraft Directory {{Norman Thompson aircraft 1910s British patrol aircraft Flying boats Twin-engined pusher aircraft N.T.4 Biplanes Aircraft first flown in 1916