WesWorld

The Air Ministry is hoping for a quiet year whilst the new generation of aircraft begin trials. Just three new Specifications are to be issued in 1936.

S.7/36: A new shipboard spotter amphibian aircraft with an all-metal hull and carrying a crew of three/ four with self-defence armament of two twin .303in Vickers 'K' MG mounts, speed is to be at least 150mph with a range of 725 miles.
Supermarine has tendered a biplane design powered by a Mercury radial. Shorts and Saro have, as yet, not offered any designs.

T.23/36: A twin-engined advanced trainer with a secondary function as a navigator/ radio operator and gunnery trainer.
Contenders are; Airspeed AS.10 based on the Envoy airliner and the Avro 652B based on the Anson.

T.29/36: A twin engined wireless trainer based on an existing civilian design.
Contenders are; Avro 652C based on the Anson and a variant of the D.H.89 Dragon Rapide.

The winners are...

S.7/36: A new shipboard spotter amphibian aircraft with an all-metal hull and carrying a crew of three-four with a self-defence armament of two twin Vickers 'K' MG mounts, speed is to be at least 150mph with a range of 725 miles.
The sole entry is the Supermarine Sea Otter, a basic biplane design powered by a Bristol Mercury radial and meeting all the main specification requirements. First flight is planned for December 1936 with service entry to replace the Seafox during 1937 aboard battleships and other heavy units.

T.23/36: A twin-engined advanced trainer with a secondary function as a navigator/ radio operator and gunnery trainer.
The winner is the Airspeed AS.10, first flight planned mid 1937, 136 on order.

T.29/36: A twin engined wireless trainer based on an existing civilian design.
The winner is the D.H.89 Dominie, eighteen on order to enter service in 1937.

In mid May 1936 the Air Ministry released a requirement for a dive-bombing aircraft for the RAF based on war experiences in South America. A draft Specficaton was delivered to Hawker Siddeley, Fairey and Boulton Paul with a final date of 1st July 1936.

In response Sidney Camm wrote a reply which has only recently been found in the archives.

An extract reads, "furthermore your requirement covers the same area as that for which the Henley was produced some two years ago. The Ministry and the Service then decided not to follow this line of bombing attack and hastily grounded the sole Henley while some were sold for export on approval from the Ministry. It is my opinion that the Henley, currently on Ministry trials, could be modified to service standard with some modernisation and production begun using Hurricane elements in a very short time and with cost savings. The Hawker Siddeley board confirms for me that Armstrong Whitworth is capable of beginning production by October under licence."