Saro Windhover

The Saro Windhover was a small, single‑engine amphibious aircraft developed by the British firm Saunders‑Roe in the late 1930s. Conceived as a naval trainer and liaison boat, the prototype, designated the Saro P.24, first flew on 5 May 1939 from the company’s Cowes, Isle of Wight, airfield. Its high‑wing, all‑metal construction incorporated a watertight fuselage and retractable landing gear, allowing operations from both water and conventional runways. Powered by a 210‑hp de Havilland Gipsy Six engine, the Windhover could reach 150 mph and carry a pilot with one passenger or an observer. Although only a handful of examples were built before World War II halted production, the type demonstrated valuable lessons in amphibious design that influenced later Saunders‑Roe projects such as the A.36 and the iconic Princess flying boat. The Windhover also served as a testbed for new corrosion‑resistant alloys and innovative hull shaping, contributing to the British Admiralty’s understanding of seaplane handling in rough seas. Though its operational record was brief, the aircraft’s blend of versatility and engineering insight marks it as a noteworthy stepping‑stone in the evolution of amphibious aviation.