P.Lewis The British Fighter since 1912 (Putnam)
Last of the Port Victoria series of original fighter designs was the P.V.9, a single-seat 150 h.p. Bentley B.R.I-powered sesquiplane seaplane which was completed in the last month of 1917. Two machine-guns were carried, a fuselage-mounted Vickers and a Lewis on the upper centre-section. The sole prototype, N55, proved to possess fine all-round qualities and was considered to out-perform any previous design in the same category. Despite these attributes, an ultimate lack of demand resulted in the abandonment of the P.V.9.
F.Mason The British Fighter since 1912 (Putnam)
Port Victoria P.V.9
At about the time that the Port Victoria Kittens were nearing completion in 1917, the Experimental Construction Depot at Port Victoria received instructions to design a single-seat scout seaplane, retaining the best features of the P.V.2, but with improved performance, as a possible replacement for the Sopwith Baby.
Given a free hand, there is little doubt but that Cdr Seddon’s design staff could have come up with an outstanding design. Unfortunately, instead of being permitted to use a high-lift wing section, the Admiralty insisted on the RAF 15 aerofoil, with the result that climb performance and ceiling were to suffer.
The P.V.9 was an attractive aeroplane although, on account of the unsuitable wings, it was bigger than originally intended. It was, like the P.V.2, a sesquiplane and retained the earlier seaplane’s ‘W’ arrangement of interplane and float struts. The fuselage was again located within the gap, and very close to upper and lower wings, thereby providing the pilot with an excellent field of view. An innovative feature was the location of the fuel tanks within the sides of the fuselage forward of the cockpit, but outside the fuselage primary structure so that the cockpit could occupy the unrestricted width of the primary box girder. A single synchronized Vickers gun was mounted on the nose decking, and a free-firing Lewis gun was provided on top of the upper wing centresection forward of a generous cutout in the upper wing trailing edge. The undercarriage consisted of twin pontoon-type main floats and a streamlined, circular-section tail float.
The P.V.9 was originally intended to be powered by a 110hp Clerget, but instead was fitted with a 150hp Bentley B.R.1 rotary. The single prototype, N55, first flew in December 1917 but, owing to recurring trouble with this engine, was not officially tested until May. Unfortunately the aircraft underwent its trials with an unsuitable propeller, with the result that the performance returned did not accurately reflect the P.V.9’s real potential. That, however, was immaterial - as were the complimentary remarks about the aircraft in general - as the proposed role of the aircraft had long since been rendered superfluous by the capabilities of the Sopwith Pup and Camel; therefore there was no further need for the P.V.9’s development.
Type: Single-engine, single-seat, twin-float, single-bay sesquiplane scout.
Manufacturer: RNAS Experimental Construction Depot, Port Victoria, Isle of Grain.
Powerplant: One 150hp Bentley B.R.1 rotary engine driving two-blade propeller. Dimensions: Span, 30ft 11in; length, 25ft 2in; height, 9ft 0in; wing area, 227 sq ft.
Weights: Tare, 1,404lb; all-up, 1,965lb.
Performance: Max speed, 110.5 mph at 2,000ft; climb to 10,000ft, 27 min 20 sec; service ceiling, 11,500ft.
Armament: One synchronized 0.303in Vickers machine gun on fuselage forward of the cockpit, and one Lewis gun on upper wing centre section.
Prototype: One, N55 (first flown in December 1917). No production.
W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters
PORT VICTORIA P.V.9 UK
Owing much to the P.V.2, the P.V.9 single-seat fighter seaplane, first flown in December 1917, was a sesquiplane braced entirely by faired steel tubes. With a fuselage mounted between the wings, an armament of one synchronised 0.303-in (7,7-mm) machine gun and a similar-calibre weapon mounted on top of the fuselage, the P.V.9 had single-step pontoon-type floats and a 150 hp Bentley B.R.I rotary engine. Protracted engine problems delayed the initiation of full-scale trials until May 1918, at which time it was alleged to be the best float-equipped single-seat fighter extant. However, lack of a suitable propeller prevented full exploitation of its performance potential and, no longer fulfilling a service requirement, its development was discontinued.
Max speed, 110 mph(177 km/h) at 2,000 ft (610 m).
Time to 6,500 ft (1980 m), 13.33 min.
Endurance. 2.5 hrs.
J.Bruce British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 (Putnam)
Port Victoria P.V.9
WHILE the Kittens were being built, Port Victoria was instructed to design a single-seat fighter seaplane in the same category as the P.V.2. It was stipulated that the new aircraft was to have the good handling qualities of the P.V.2, the same excellent outlook from the cockpit, and a really worthwhile maximum speed.
In response to this request the design staff at Port Victoria brought out the design known as P.V.9, based on a 130 h.p. Clerget rotary engine. A high wing-loading was envisaged, and it was intended to use a high-lift aerofoil.
Official prejudice against high-lift wings led to the rejection of the original design, and instructions were given that the R.A.F. 15 aerofoil was to be used. Port Victoria promptly objected on the grounds that, within the specified dimensions, use of R.A.F. 15 would mean a poorer rate of climb and a higher landing speed. These protests proved unavailing, and the aeroplane which was eventually built was considerably larger and heavier than the original concept.
The P.V.9 bore a general resemblance to the P.V.2, for it was a sesquiplane braced entirely by faired steel tubes. The later machine had a vee-strut between each float and each lower mainplane. The fuselage was a clean, conventional structure which was mounted between the wings yet filled almost the whole gap; the proximity of the upper wing to the fuselage ensured a good all-round view for the pilot. The main fuel tanks were installed on each side of the fuselage within the fairings behind the engine cowling: the tanks were thus outside the basic fuselage structure, and a commodious cockpit was thereby provided in a small fuselage. A pair of Linton Hope floats were designed for the P.V.9 but were never built. The completed machine had pontoon-type floats, each with a single step, and a streamlined tail-float of circular cross-section.
The P.V.9 made its first flight in December, 1917, powered by a 150 h.p. B.R.1 engine. Persistent and protracted engine trouble prevented the carrying out of flight trials until May, 1918; and even then truly representative performance figures could not be obtained because a suitable airscrew was not available. The machine was tested with one taken from a lighter and faster landplane (probably a Sopwith Camel), but it was by no means suitable for the P.V.9. It did not allow the engine to develop its full r.p.m. and caused a marked drop in r.p.m. above 2,000 ft. This had an adverse effect on speed and rate of climb, and reduced the ceiling by several thousands of feet.
In spite of all the official interference and subsequent difficulties, the P.V.9 was reported to be the best single-seat seaplane fighter built up to the time of its trials. By then, however, the machine fulfilled no known Service requirement and was apparently shelved.
SPECIFICATION
Manufacturers: R.N.A.S. Experimental Construction Depot, Port Victoria, Isle of Grain.
Power: 150 h.p. Bentley B.R.1.
Dimensions: Span: upper 30 ft 11 in., lower 20 ft 1 in. Length: 25 ft 2 in. Height: 9 ft. Chord: upper 5 ft 6 in., lower 3 ft 9 in. Gap: 4 ft. Span of tail: 11 ft 6 in. Airscrew diameter: 9 ft.
Areas: Wings: 227 sq ft.
Weights and Performance: No. of Trial Report: N.M.178. Date of Trial Report: May 27th, 1918. Type of airscrew used on trial: A.B.644. Weight empty: 1,404 lb. Military load: 120 lb. Pilot: 180 lb. Fuel and oil: 261 lb. Loaded: 1,965 lb. Maximum speed at 2,000 ft: 110-5 m.p.h.; at 6,500 ft: 105 m.p.h.; at 10,000 ft: 99-5 m.p.h. Climb to 2,000 ft: 3 min 10 sec; to 6,500 ft: 13 min 20 sec; to 10,000 ft: 27 min 20 sec. Service ceiling: 11,500 ft. Endurance: 2 1/2 hours.
Tankage: Petrol: 34-5 gallons. Oil: 6 gallons.
Armament: One fixed forward-firing Vickers machine-gun mounted on top of the fuselage and synchronised to fire through the revolving airscrew; one Lewis machine-gun above the centre-section firing forwards and upwards over the airscrew.
Serial Number: N.55.
H.King Armament of British Aircraft (Putnam)
Port Victoria
P.V.9. Intended for the escort of flying-boats, this advanced single-seat seaplane of 1917 had a synchronised Vickers gun on top of the fuselage and a Lewis gun over the top centre-section, firing upwards and forwards over the airscrew.
