Blackburn Aircraft

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox company 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 and Jessy Blackburn, who built his first aircraft in Leeds in 1908 with the company's Olympia Works at Roundhay opening in 1914.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company was created in 1914<ref name=":YP:">Template:Cite news</ref> and established in a new factory at Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire in 1916.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Robert's brother Norman Blackburn later became managing director.

Blackburn acquired the 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.Template:Sfn

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,Template:Sfn 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>Template:Cite book</ref>

Blackburn amalgamated with General Aircraft Limited in 1949 as Blackburn and General Aircraft Limited,Template:Sfn 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:">Template:Cite news</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 and Filey,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with the company also using the former RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor.Template:Sfn 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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Aircraft

File:Blackburn beverley in 1964 arp.jpg

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

• 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:">Template:Cite news</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) – 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 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>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Blackburn Sidecar (1919) Single-engine two-seat mid wing monoplane ultra light: may not have flown.
• Blackburn T.1 Swift (1920) – Single-engine, single-seat floatplane torpedo bomber<ref name=":IND:" />
• 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 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 T.4 Cubaroo (1924) – Single-engine, four-seat large biplane torpedo bomber.
• Blackburn T.3 Velos (1925) – Single-engine, two-seat biplane bomber floatplane<ref name=":WE:">Template:Cite book</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 R.B.1 Iris (1926) – Three-engine, five-seat biplane flying boat<ref name=":IND:" />
• Blackburn F.1 Turcock (1928) – Single-engine fighter aircraft.
• 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 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 R.B.2 Sydney (1930) – Three-engine, four-seat parasol-wing long-range flying boat.
• Blackburn C.B.2 Nile (1930) – Three-engine, two-seat parasol-wing cargo transport, a variant of the Sydney.
• Blackburn B-1 Segrave (1930) – Twin-engine, four-seat low-wing monoplane touring aircraftTemplate:Sfn
• Blackburn C.A.15C (1932) – Twin-engine ten passenger high-wing monoplane/ biplane airliner.
• 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 M.1/30 (1932) – Single-engine, two-seat biplane naval torpedo bomber.
• Blackburn B-5 Baffin<ref name=":WE:" /> (1932)
• Blackburn R.B.3 Perth (1933) – Three-engine, five-seat biplane flying boat.
• 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 flewTemplate:Sfn
• 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 bomberTemplate:Sfn
• 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)Template:Sfn
• Blackburn Botha (1938) – B-36. Twin-engine, four-seat high-wing monoplane reconnaissance/torpedo bomber & crew trainerTemplate:Sfn
• 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 fighterTemplate:Sfn
• 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)<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.Template:Cn
• 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)Template:Sfn and the Fairey Swordfish (1942), both of which were built at Blackburn's Sherburn-in-Elmet factory.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</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)

Notes

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References

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External links

• The history of Blackburn Aircraft Ltd.
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