The AD Navyplane was designed by the British Admiralty's Air Department as a reconnaissance aircraft for use during World War I.
The Navyplane was designed by the Admiralty's Harold Bolas with the assistance of R.J. Mitchell of Supermarine.
[3] Tests of this Supermarine-built prototype commenced in August 1916 (flown by Lieutenant-Commander John Seddon) but proved seriously underpowered and unsatisfactory.
However, even without a military load and observer, the Navyplane's performance still proved to be poor,[4] and the design was abandoned on 27 August 1917,[citation needed] with no second prototype being produced.
While contracts for six aircraft were placed, work was abandoned before a prototype was built, the Short 184 proving adequate in the patrol role.