Harris Booth Air Department of the Admiralty (or A.D.) designed this
distinctly odd anti-airship fighter for naval use. Although of
conventional wood and fabric construction, unlike what was becoming
standard practice, the fuselage nacelle was attached to the top wing rather
than the bottom. This gave the pilot/gunner an excellent all-round view but
contributed nothing to stability.
The Scout (unofficially called the Sparrow) was intended to carry a Davis
two-pounder recoilless gun, but wiser heads prevailed, figuring that, recoilless
or not, the structure wasn't up to such a weapon. An ordinary Lewis gun was
fitted instead. The ability of a single man to fly the aircraft, load, fire and reload
these heavy guns was always doubtful. When RNAS pilots got their hands on
the Scout they found it was overweight with extremely poor handling. The
Admiralty accepted it, but got rid of it as unsatisfactory within a month.
FACTS AND FIGURES
© The extremely narrow
undercarriage included a
skid which may not have
done much ro stop the
Scout tipping forward.
© Not only was the fuselage
attached to the upper wing,
but that wing was smaller
than the lower wing -
contrary to the arrangement
found on most biplanes.
© The tailplane was attached
by four very slender
tailbooms. The tailplane
itself was enormous, as large
as the upper wing.
© The tailbooms were
horizontally spaced nearly
3.4m apart. The
skids at the ends of the
booms helped the
Sparrow stay upright.
