Photograph: Supermarine Seagull III A9-6 on Sydney Harbour c 1938 (RAAF Museum) Country of origin: United Kingdom Description: Amphibious reconnaissance biplane Power Plant: One 336 kw (450 hp) Napier Lion twelve-cylinder, broad-arrow, liquid-cooled engine Specifications: Wingspan: 14.0 m (46 ft) Length: 11.27 m (37 ft) Height: 3.65 m (12 ft)

In 1929 a specification was issued for a boat-hulled amphibian for shipboard operation to replace the Supermarine Seagull III, a number of which were in service with the RAN on board the seaplane carrier HMAS Albatross.

The Southampton was designed as a patrol seaplane to replace the Felixtowe F.5, six aircraft being ordered in 1924 before the prototype was built.

Probably the most famous fighter aircraft, the Spitfire was conceived as the Supermarine Type 300 single-seat fighter and was designed by a team lead by Reginald J Mitchell.

The Supermarine Swift was designed and built to specification E.41/46 by the Supermarine Division of Vickers-Armstrongs (Aviation) Ltd, it being a swept-wing fighter based on the naval fighter, the Attacker.

The Sikorsky S-70 series was designed to meet a requirement of the US Army for a utility tactical transport aircraft system (UTTAS), winning a contest in 1976 against a design from Boeing Vertol.

The Super Frelon originated from two prototypes of the SA 3200 Frelon [Hornet], the first of which was flown for the first time on 10 June 1959.

In February 1978 a contract was signed by Sikorsky to build a series of helicopters to meet the US Navy’s LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose system) helicopter requirement, the type being designed to fulfil both the anti-submarine warfare role, and the anti-ship surveillance and targeting role.

The G-2A Galeb (Seagull) was the first indigenous jet-powered military trainer designed and placed in production in Yugoslavia.

The SM.79 series was one of the most successful Italian bombers of World War II, being a three-engine monoplane which was noted for its high wing loading, and most aircraft delivered to the Italian Air Force having the Alfa Romeo 126 RC 34 engine, which was a Bristol Pegasus built

The Sopwith 1½ strutter was the first Sopwith aircraft to achieve widespread use as a fighting aeroplane.

The SB-9 Stormer is a development of the Company’s Seeker and Sentinel series and is designed to offer a cost-effective, fixed-wing alternative to the military helicopters in operations with air arms around the world, particularly in hostile environments.

The Sopwith 3F.2 Buffalo was an armoured two-seat aircraft designed specifically for low-level observation where it regularly became the subject of ground fire, and many crews were in danger and suffered many casualties amongst pilots and observers.

The Jaguar was the culmination of an agreement between the United Kingdom and France to develop a ground attack aircraft which could also be sold to foreign services.

The Baby was a development of the Schneider, being a twin float seaplane built for the Royal Naval Air Service.

The Singapore, the last biplane flying-boat built by Short, was designed for the RAF as a long-range general reconnaissance biplane, the first Singapore I (N179) flying in 1926, this aircraft being fitted with two 597 kw (800-hp) Rolls Royce H-10 engines.

One of the most successful and popular single-seat fighter scouts of World War I, the Camel was an ideal vehicle for those pilots who mastered its potent peculiarities, being ideal for aerobatics and dog fighting;but it was also a vicious machine, in fact a potential deathtrap to those who did

In 1936 the British Air Staff drew up plans for the development of a series of twin-engine aircraft which culminated in the Whitley, Hampden and Wellington medium bombers.

The Sopwith Pup was one of the most successful aeroplanes of the World War I era, having aesthetic appeal and delightful handling qualities.

The S-211 was designed in Italy by SIAI marchetti to meet a need for a cheap-to-buy and operate light jet military trainer which could be used for some of the primary training introduction phase.

Designed by Herbert Smith, chief designer of the Sopwith Company, as a replacement for the Camel, the 7F.1 Snipe first appeared in mid 1917.

Siemens-Schuckertwerke was one of a number of branches of the Siemens Electrical firm, the company founded in 1847 by Werner Von Siemens and Johann Halske.

The Tabloid was one of the outstanding aeroplanes produced in Great Britain before the beginning of World War I and, in the hands of Australian born test pilot Harry Hawker, caused a sensation at Hendon on 29 November 1913 when first demonstrated to the public.

The MH-60, initially known as the LAMPS Mark II Block II Upgrade when development commenced in 1993, is a multi mission helicopter aimed at service with naval forces on board ships and on land.

In order to design an aircraft that was superior to any produced in Germany, the design team at Sopwith in early 1916 designed a triplane, this machine having three narrow chord wings but the wing area giving plenty of lift.

The London was built to a British Air Ministry specification for a general purpose coastal patrol flying boat of robust but simple construction.

The Syndetta is a single-seat ultra-light aircraft of tubular steel construction with fabric covering designed and built by Joseph Kunovsky of Winston Hills, a suburb of Sydney, in the 1990s.

In 1931 Richard Sutton, a member of the Queensland Aero Club, indicated an interest in building an aircraft of his own design.

The Merlin III is an eight/eleven seat executive transport designed by Ed Swearingen to offer an aircraft which can travel almost at jet speeds whilst consuming less than half the fuel that a jet business aircraft would require for the same distance.

The Swearingen series of aircraft achieved prominence when a Merlin III won the 9,414 km (5,851 miles) trans-Atlantic London – Victoria (British Colombia) Air Race in 1971.

Designed by Edward J Swearingen of San Antonio, Texas, the SX-300, when it was released, was described as the ultimate kit-built aircraft, being the fastest, the most expensive and the most complex to build.

The Stits SA-5A of early 1955 was the first of the Flut-R-Bug series, this being a single-engine single-seat sporting aircraft designed around a converted Volkswagen four-cylinder powerplant.

In 1957 Louis Stolp and George Adams designed and built a light single-seat sporting biplane known as the Starduster, and subsequently marketed plans, components and basic materials to amateur constructors.

The first aircraft in the Skycoupe series, the SA-7, was not originally planned for production, but interest in the aircraft forced the designer, Ray Stits, to revise his plans.

Ernest J Strumey was born in 1890 in Singleton, NSW, In about 1912 he designed and built a pedal powered aircraft as part of his interest in aviation but this was not particularly successful.

The Playmate was one of a series of designs of light aircraft produced by Raymond Stits in the United States, the SA-11 Playmate being produced in two variants, the SA-11A fitted with a 63-kw (85-hp) Continental C-85 engine, this being a single-seater; and the SA-11B being a two seater with

The Djinn was the first jet driven helicopter in the world, being designed by the Sud-Ouest concern which subsequently became part of Sud Aviation when the French aircraft industry was nationalised.

The Glasair III is a dual, control aircraft developed for the home-built market by Stoddard Hamilton Aircraft of Arlington, Washington, as a more powerful version of the II series.

In the early 1980s a programme was commenced in Moscow to develop a high performance aerobatic aircraft for competition.

Thomas Stoddard commenced development of a light aircraft in 1975 and set up a facility at the Cedar Grove Airport in Seattle.