S68. Tractor biplane for 1913 Seaplane Circuit of Britain

  This was McClean's aircraft No. 15, built specially to compete for the Daily Mail ?500 prize, the contest to start on the 16 August 1913. Vibration problems could not be resolved in time and the entry, No.4, was withdrawn. The machine proved to be slow and was soon abandoned.
  The type was an individual design, but included features from other Short types and resembled an enlarged version of the S60, apart from the installation of the inline engine and its radiators. The aircraft was built initially with top wing overhang and single acting ailerons, but later the lower wings, which had rounded tips, were increased to a span equal to that of the top wings. The exhaust pipes for the six-cylinders were carried vertically up to a collector box exhausting over the top wing. Large radiators were mounted fore and aft on the center section struts and these were a source of leakage.
  It is possible that this aircraft was impressed into the Navy as No. 182 with Gnome engine.

  Power: 100hp Green six-cylinder inline water-cooled.
  Data
  Span 61ft
  Length 40ft
  Area 600 sq. ft later increased to 660 sq. ft