In 1928 pioneer pilot/constructor A. V. Roe (later Sir)
acquired an interest in S. E. Saunders Ltd and firm
was reconstituted as above. First new product was Cutty
Sark flying-boat, with Fokker-type wing, built in small numbers;
also larger Cloud (1931) of which RAF had 16. Most
successful product was twin-engined London biplane
flying-boat of 1934 which served with RAF until 1941.
Shrimp two-seat four-engined aircraft was built to serve
as research vehicle for
A.27 London
larger types. Company built the
Supermarine Walrus and Sea Otter in quantity. SR/A1 of
1947 was world's first jet-propelled flying-boat fighter, but
was not ordered into service. Princess ten-turboprop commercial
flying-boat of 1952 was a great technical achievment,
but never entered service. SR.53, first flown in 1957,
was experimental turbojet/rocket interceptor which demonstrated
climb of about 15,240m/min. Promising
SR.177 development was abandoned despite
international interest. Company entered helicopter field in
early 1950s with small Skeeter (originally Cierva), though
in 1928 S.E. Saunders had made Isaaco Helicogyre (which
never flew) for the Air Ministry. Five-seat P.531 built 1958,
but in 1959 company was acquired by Westland Aircraft, which developed the P.531 as the Wasp/Scout.
