Editing Blackburn Aircraft

{{Short description|Former British aircraft manufacturer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Blackburn Aircraft Limited
|logo = Blackburn Aircraft.png
|fate = Acquisition and merger
|successor = [[Hawker Siddeley|Hawker Siddeley Group]]
|foundation = 1914
|founder = [[Robert Blackburn (aviation pioneer)|Robert Blackburn]]
|defunct = 1960
|location = [[Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire|Brough]], Yorkshire
|industry = Aviation, aircraft engines
|key_people = [[Barry Laight]]
|products =
|num_employees =
|parent =
|subsid = 
}}
'''Blackburn Aircraft Limited''' was a British [[aircraft manufacturer]] from 1914 to 1963 that concentrated mainly on naval and maritime aircraft.

==History==
Blackburn Aircraft was founded by [[Robert Blackburn (aviation pioneer)|Robert Blackburn]] and [[Jessy Blackburn]], who built his first aircraft in [[Leeds]] in 1908 with the company's Olympia Works at [[Roundhay]] opening in 1914.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roundhay Ward Neighbourhood Design Statement|url=http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Roundhay%20PDF%20full.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103234420/http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Roundhay%20PDF%20full.pdf |archive-date=2012-11-03 |url-status=live|website=leeds.gov.uk|access-date=20 November 2017|page=9|date=October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Fraser|first=Derek|title=The History of Modern Leeds|date=1980|publisher=Manchester University Press|location=Manchester|isbn=0-7190-0781-X|page=164|chapter=VI: Industrial Development, 1780&ndash;1914}}</ref>

The Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company was created in 1914<ref name=":YP:">{{cite news|title=Unsung hero who reached for the sky gets another chance to fly high again|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/unsung-hero-who-reached-for-the-sky-gets-another-chance-to-fly-high-again-1-5863522|access-date=20 November 2017|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=18 July 2013}}</ref> and established in a new factory at [[Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire|Brough]], [[East Riding of Yorkshire]] in 1916.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mistry|first1=Pritti|title=End of an era for Brough workers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-17217413|access-date=20 November 2017|work=BBC News|date=1 March 2012}}</ref> Robert's brother [[Norman Blackburn (aviation pioneer)|Norman Blackburn]] later became managing director.

Blackburn acquired the [[Cirrus aero engines|Cirrus-Hermes Engineering]] company in 1934, beginning its manufacture of aircraft engines. However an updated range of engines was under development and Blackburn wanted to wait until it was established before giving its name to them, so Cirrus Hermes Engineering was retained as a separate company for the time being.<ref>''The Times'', 9 July 1937.</ref>

The company's name was changed to Blackburn Aircraft Limited in 1936.<ref>''The Times'', 3 April 1936.</ref>

In 1937, with the new Cirrus engines now well established, engine manufacturing was brought into the parent company as an operating division, giving rise to the [[Blackburn Cirrus]] name.{{sfn|Bridgman|1943|p=10d}}

By 1937, pressure to re-arm was growing and the Yorkshire factory was approaching capacity. A fortuitous friendship between [[Maurice Denny]], managing director of [[William Denny and Brothers]], the [[Dumbarton]] ship building company,{{sfn|Bridgman|1943|p=12c}} and Robert Blackburn resulted in the building of a new Blackburn factory at Barge Park, Dumbarton where production of the Blackburn Botha commenced in 1939.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sherry|first=Alan M.|title=The Blackburn, Dumbarton's Aircraft Factory|year=1996|publisher=Stenlake Publishing|location=Catrine, Ayrshire|isbn=9781872074825|pages=9–10}}</ref>

Blackburn amalgamated with [[General Aircraft Ltd|General Aircraft Limited]] in 1949 as Blackburn and General Aircraft Limited,{{sfn|Halpenny|1982|p=33}} reverting to Blackburn Aircraft Limited by 1958.

As part of the rationalisation of British aircraft manufacturers, its aircraft production and engine operations were absorbed into [[Hawker Siddeley]] and [[Bristol Siddeley]] respectively<ref name=":YP:" /> in 1960/1961. The Blackburn name was dropped completely in 1963.<ref name=":BBC:">{{cite news|title=Historic bi-plane in flying visit|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34288508|access-date=20 November 2017|work=BBC News|date=18 September 2015}}</ref>

An American company, Blackburn Aircraft Corp., was incorporated in Detroit on 20 May 1929 to acquire design and patent rights of the aircraft of Blackburn Airplane & Motor Co., Ltd. in the USA. It was owned 90% by [[Detroit Aircraft Corp.]] and 10% by Blackburn Airplane & Motor Co., Ltd. Agreements covered such rights in North and South America, excepting Brazil and certain rights in Canada and provided that all special tools and patterns were to be supplied by the UK company at cost.

===Locations===
The company had factories at Olympia in Leeds, [[Sherburn-in-Elmet]], Brough (East Yorkshire) and Dumbarton. In the early days, Blackburn himself flew aircraft on the beaches at [[Marske-by-the-Sea|Marske]] and [[Filey]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Memories of flight legend|url=http://www.fileymercury.co.uk/news/transport/memories-of-flight-legend-1-3777364|access-date=20 November 2017|work=Filey & Hunmanby Mercury|date=21 September 2011}}</ref> with the company also using the former [[RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor]].{{sfn|Abraham|2002|p=109}} Before production shifted to Sherburn-in-Elmet and Brough from the Leeds site, aircraft were flown in and out of Olympia works by an adjacent airstrip in Roundhay Park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roundhay Park (Leeds) - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/roundhay-park-leeds/|website=www.abct.org.uk|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref>

==Aircraft==
[[File:Blackburn beverley in 1964 arp.jpg|thumb|right|Blackburn Beverley photographed in 1964. The type served the RAF as a heavy lift transport between 1955 and 1967. A total of 47 were built]]
{{inc-transport|date=August 2008}}

*[[Blackburn First Monoplane]] (1909) – Single-engine, single-seat high-wing monoplane aircraft
*[[Blackburn Second Monoplane]] (1911) – Single-engine midwing monoplane aircraft.
*[[Blackburn Mercury]] (1911) – Single-engine, two-seat midwing monoplane training aircraft<ref name=":IND:">{{cite news|last1=Blackburn|first1=Robert|title=Obituary: Jessica Blackburn|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-jessica-blackburn-1620608.html|access-date=20 November 2017|work=The Independent|date=22 May 1995}}</ref>
*[[Blackburn Type B]] (1912) – Single-engine, two-seat midwing monoplane training aircraft. A development of the [[Blackburn Mercury]]
*[[Blackburn Type D]] (1912) – Single-engine single-seat mid-winged monoplane. Preserved in flying condition by the [[Shuttleworth Collection]] at [[Old Warden]], and survives as the oldest British-built aircraft.
*[[Blackburn Type E]] (1912) – Single-engine, midwing metal-framed monoplanes, one single-seater one twin.
*[[Blackburn Type I]] (1913) – Single-engine 1/2-seat mid-wing monoplane built both as land- and seaplane.
*[[Blackburn Type L]] (1914) – Single-engine two-seat biplane seaplane.
*[[AD Scout]] (1915) – [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] designed single-engine, single-seat pusher anti-Zeppelin aircraft. Two each built by Blackburn and by [[Hewlett & Blondeau]].
*[[Blackburn Twin Blackburn]] (1915) – Twin-fuselage, two-engine, two-seat anti-[[Zeppelin]] seaplane.
*[[Blackburn General Purpose]] (1916) – Twin-engine three-seat seaplane biplane anti-submarine patrol bomber.
*[[Blackburn Triplane]] (1916) – Blackburn-designed triplane version of Scout
*[[Blackburn White Falcon]] (1916) – Single-engine two-seat mid-wing monoplane.
*[[Blackburn R.T.1 Kangaroo]] (1918) – Twin-engine, three-seat biplane reconnaissance/torpedo bomber<ref name=":IND:" />
*[[Blackburn Pellet|Blackburn N.1B]] (1918) – Single-engine single-seat biplane flying boat escort bomber (started; not finished; never flew).
*[[Blackburn Blackburd]] (1918) – Single-engine, single-seat biplane torpedo bomber<ref>{{Cite book |author=Mason, Francis K. |title=The British Bomber Since 1914 |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books |location= London |year=1994|page=28 |isbn= 0-85177-861-5}}</ref>
*[[Blackburn Sidecar]] (1919) Single-engine two-seat mid wing monoplane ultra light: may not have flown.
*[[Blackburn Dart|Blackburn T.1 Swift]] (1920) – Single-engine, single-seat floatplane torpedo bomber<ref name=":IND:" />
*[[Blackburn Dart|Blackburn T.2 Dart]] (1921) – Single-engine, single-seat biplane torpedo bomber<ref name=":IND:" />
*Alula D.H.6 (1921) – Experimental aircraft to test the Alula wing using an [[Airco DH.6]] fuselage.
*[[Alula Semiquaver]] (1921) – Single-engine Alula wing conversion of the [[Martinsyde Semiquaver]].
*[[Blackburn Blackburn|Blackburn R.1 Blackburn]] (1922) – Single-engine, three-seat biplane naval spotter/reconnaissance aircraft.
*[[Blackburn Pellet]] (1923) – Single-engine single-seat biplane Schneider racer.
*[[Blackburn Bluebird]] (1924) – Single-engine, two-seat biplane training/touring aircraft
*[[Blackburn Cubaroo|Blackburn T.4 Cubaroo]] (1924) – Single-engine, four-seat large biplane torpedo bomber.
*[[Blackburn Velos|Blackburn T.3 Velos]] (1925) – Single-engine, two-seat biplane bomber floatplane<ref name=":WE:">{{cite book|last1=Gunston|first1=Bill|title=World encyclopedia of aircraft manufacturers : from the pioneers to the present day|date=2005|publisher=Sutton|location=Stroud|isbn=0-7509-3981-8|page=61|edition=2}}</ref>
*[[Blackburn R.2 Airedale]] (1925) – Single-engine three-seat high-wing monoplane reconnaissance.
*[[Blackburn T.5 Ripon]] (1926) – Single-engine, two-seat biplane reconnaissance/torpedo bomber<ref name=":WE:" />
*[[Blackburn Sprat]] (1926) single-engine two-seat biplane advanced trainer.
*[[Blackburn Iris|Blackburn R.B.1 Iris]] (1926) – Three-engine, five-seat biplane flying boat<ref name=":IND:" />
*[[Blackburn Turcock|Blackburn F.1 Turcock]] (1928) – Single-engine fighter aircraft.
*[[Blackburn Lincock|Blackburn F.2 Lincock]] (1928) – Single-engine, single-seat biplane fighter.
*[[Blackburn Beagle]] (1928) – Single-engine two-seat two-seat biplane bomber.
*[[Blackburn Bluebird IV]] (1929) – Single-engine, two-seat biplane training/touring aircraft.
*[[Blackburn Nautilus|Blackburn 2F.1 Nautilus]] (1929) – Single-engine two-seat engine biplane fighter
*Blackburn T.7B (1929) – Single-engine three-seat biplane bomber/reconnaissance prototype for Japanese Navy. Built as [[Mitsubishi B2M]]
*[[Blackburn Sydney|Blackburn R.B.2 Sydney]] (1930) – Three-engine, four-seat parasol-wing long-range flying boat.
*[[Blackburn Sydney|Blackburn C.B.2 Nile]] (1930) – Three-engine, two-seat parasol-wing cargo transport, a variant of the Sydney.
*[[Blackburn Segrave|Blackburn B-1 Segrave]] (1930) – Twin-engine, four-seat low-wing monoplane touring aircraft{{sfn|Halpenny|1982|p=32}}
*[[Blackburn C.A.15C]] (1932) – Twin-engine ten passenger high-wing monoplane/ biplane airliner.
*[[Blackburn Baffin|Blackburn T.8 Baffin]] (1932) – Single-engine, two-seat biplane torpedo bomber.
*[[Blackburn B-2]] (1932) – Single-engine, two-seat biplane training aircraft.
*[[Blackburn B-3|Blackburn B-3 M.1/30]] (1932) – Single-engine, two-seat biplane naval torpedo bomber.
*[[Blackburn Baffin|Blackburn B-5 Baffin]]<ref name=":WE:" /> (1932)
*[[Blackburn R.B.3 Perth]] (1933) – Three-engine, five-seat biplane flying boat.
*[[Blackburn Shark|Blackburn T.9 Shark]] (1933) – single-engine, three-seat carrier-based biplane torpedo bomber; see also the prototype named [[Blackburn B-6 Shark]]<ref name=":WE:" /> (1933)
*[[Blackburn F.3]] (1934) – Single-engine single-seat biplane fighter: built, never flew{{sfn|Halpenny|1982|pages=32&ndash;33}}
*[[Blackburn B-7]] (1934) – General-purpose biplane.
*[[Blackburn H.S.T.10]] (B-9) (1936) – Twin-engine twelve-passenger low-wing monoplane airliner: built, never flew
*[[Blackburn Skua]] (1937) – Company designation B-24. Single-engine, two-seat low-wing monoplane naval fighter/dive bomber{{sfn|Bridgman|1943|p=12c}}
*[[Blackburn Roc]] (1938) – Company designation B-25. Single-engine, two-seat low-wing monoplane naval fighter/dive bomber with rear turret (detail design and built by [[Boulton Paul Aircraft]]){{sfn|Bridgman|1943|p=12c}}
*[[Blackburn Botha]] (1938) – B-36. Twin-engine, four-seat high-wing monoplane reconnaissance/torpedo bomber & crew trainer{{sfn|Bridgman|1943|p=12c}}
* Blackburn B-29: Submission for a naval torpedo-bomber reconnaissance aircraft to Specification S.24/37 (which resulted in the [[Fairey Barracuda]]); mock-up only, never flew.
*[[Blackburn B-20]] (1940) – Twin-engine, six-seat experimental monoplane retractable-hull flying boat. Built for Air Ministry specification R1/36
*[[Blackburn Firebrand]] (1942) – B-37. Single-engine, single-seat propeller naval fighter{{sfn|Abraham|2002|p=109}}
*Blackburn B-40 - development of B.20 design for specification R.13/40 . Cancelled. 
*[[Blackburn B.44]] (1942) – Single-engine flying-boat fighter
*[[Blackburn Firebrand]]  (1942) – B.45. Single-engine, single-seat propeller naval strike fighter development of B-37.
*Blackburn Firebrand  (1945) – B.46. Single-engine, single-seat propeller naval strike fighter development of B-45.
*[[Blackburn Firecrest]] (Y.A.1, B-48) (1947) – Single-engine, single-seat propeller naval strike fighter.
*Blackburn B-50 (1945) – Design proposal for a single engine Nene powered Fleet Air Arm strike fighter. Not built.<ref>Buttler, page 301.</ref>
*Blackburn B-52 – Design proposal for a single-engined advanced trainer to meet Specification T.7/45. Not built.
*Blackburn B-67 (1947) – Design proposal for a naval fighter to specification N40/46. Not built.<ref name="buttler302">Buttler, page 302.</ref>
*Blackburn B-68 (1946) – Design proposal for a naval fighter. Not built.<ref name=buttler302 />
*Blackburn B-71 (1947) – Design proposal for a flexible deck landing version of B.67. Not built.<ref name=buttler302 />
*Blackburn B-74 (1947) – Design proposal for a naval fighter. Not built.<ref name=buttler302 />
*[[Blackburn B-54]] (Y.A.5, Y.A.7, Y.A.8) (1949) – single-piston-engine, two-seat contra-rotating propeller naval anti-submarine aircraft.
*Blackburn B-82 (1949) – Design proposal for a naval fighter to specification N.14/49.<ref name=buttler302 />
*[[Blackburn B-88]] (Y.B.1) (1950) – single-turboprop-engine, two-seat contra-rotating propeller naval anti-submarine aircraft
*Blackburn B-89 (1951) – Submission for a naval fighter to specification N.114T.<ref name=buttler302 />
*Blackburn B-90 (1951) – Design proposal for an experimental swing wing aircraft to ER.110T. Not built.<ref name=buttler302 /> 
*Blackburn B-94 (1951) – Design proposal for a flexible deck landing version of B.90. Not built.<ref name=buttler302 />
*[[Handley Page HP.88]] (Blackburn Y.B.2) (1951) – Experimental aircraft for Handley Page using a [[Supermarine]]-built fuselage.
*Blackburn B-95 (1952) – Design proposal for a revised version of B.89.<ref name=buttler302 /> 
*Blackburn B-97 (1952) – Design proposal for a rocket powered fighter to specification F.124T. Not built.<ref name=buttler302 />
*Blackburn B-99 (1952) – Development of N.97. Not built.<ref name=buttler302 />
*[[Blackburn Beverley]] (1950) – B-101. four-engine, high-wing, propellers, transport airplane (designed by [[General Aircraft Limited|General Aircraft]])<ref name=":IND:" />
*Blackburn B-102 (1952) – Design proposal for a mixed powerplant fighter based on B.89 and B.95. Not built.<ref name=buttler302 />  
*[[Blackburn Buccaneer]] (Y.B.3, B-103) (1958) – twin-engine, two-seat jet naval strike aircraft to Naval Staff Requirement NA.39<ref name=":IND:" />
*Blackburn B-104 (1953) - Design proposal for a two-engine medium-range military transport for the Royal Air Force. Not built.{{cn|date=October 2022|reason=citation to unreliable source removed}}
*Blackburn B-109 (1958) – Design proposal for a Mach 1.5 strike fighter version of the Buccaneer for the Canadian Air Force. Not built.<ref name=buttler302 />
*Blackburn B-112 (1958) – Design proposal for a Mach 1.5 fighter version of the Buccaneer for the Royal Navy. Not built.<ref name="buttler303">Buttler, page 303.</ref>
*Blackburn B-117 (1960) – Design proposal for a high attitude fighter version of the Buccaneer. Not built.<ref name=buttler303 />
*Blackburn B-120 (1962) – Design proposal for a Mach 1.8 fighter version of the Buccaneer. Not built.<ref name=buttler303 />

The company also produced aircraft from other aircraft companies' specifications, such as the [[Sopwith Cuckoo]] (1918){{sfn|Halpenny|1982|p=170}} and the [[Fairey Swordfish]] (1942), both of which were built at Blackburn's Sherburn-in-Elmet factory.<ref>{{cite news|title=History in the making as war plane returns to Leeds 74 years on|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/history-in-the-making-as-war-plane-returns-to-leeds-74-years-on-1-7469801|access-date=20 November 2017|work=Yorkshire Evening Post|date=19 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Stott|first1=Ian G|title=The Fairey Swordfish Mks. I-IV|date=1971|publisher=Profile Publications|location=Windsor|pages=24&nbsp;25|oclc=53091961}}</ref>

==Piston engines==
*[[Blackburn Cirrus Major]] (1936)
*[[Blackburn Cirrus Minor]] (1937)
*[[Blackburn Cirrus Midget]] (1937)
*[[Blackburn Cirrus Bombardier]] (c. 1954)

==Gas turbine engines (with Turbomeca)==
*[[Blackburn-Turbomeca Artouste]] (1947)
*[[Blackburn-Turbomeca Palas]] (1950)
*[[Blackburn-Turbomeca Palouste]] (1952)
*[[Blackburn-Turbomeca A.129]] (later known as the Bristol Siddeley Nimbus, then Rolls-Royce Nimbus) (1958)

==See also==
{{aircontent
|see also=
*[[Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom]]
<!-- relevant lists that this company appears in: -->
|lists=
*[[List of aircraft manufacturers]]
*[[List of aircraft engine manufacturers]]
}}

==Notes==
<references />

==References==
*{{cite book|last=Abraham|first=Barry|title=Post-War Yorkshire Airfields|year=2002|publisher=Tempus|location=Stroud|isbn=0-7524-2390-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Bridgman|first=Leonard|title=Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1942|year=1943|publisher=Sampson, Low, Marston & Co|location=New York|oclc=26177288}}
*{{cite book | last = Buttler | first = Tony | title = British Secret Projects : Jet Fighters since 1950 | location= Manchester | publisher = Crecy Publishing | date = 2017 | type= Hardback | isbn = 978-1-910-80905-1| edition = 2nd }}
*{{cite book|last=Halpenny|first=Bruce Barrymore|title=Action Stations 4; Military Airfields of Yorkshire|year=1982|publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd|location=Cambridge|isbn=0-85059-532-0}}
*{{cite book|last=Otter|first=Patrick|title=Yorkshire Airfields in the Second World War|year=2003|publisher=Countryside Books|location=Newbury|edition=4|isbn=1-85306-542-0}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Blackburn Aircraft}}
*[http://www.cartoons.karoo.net/brough/BAe.htm The history of Blackburn Aircraft Ltd.]
*{{PM20|FID=co/053663|TEXT=Documents and clippings}}

{{Blackburn aircraft}}
{{BAE Systems evolution}}
{{Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:British companies established in 1914]]
[[Category:1960 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Companies based in the East Riding of Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Former defence companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct aircraft engine manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of England]]
[[Category:Hawker Siddeley]]
[[Category:History of the East Riding of Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1914]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1960]]
[[Category:1914 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Blackburn aircraft| ]]
[[Category:Blackburn aircraft engines| ]]