Blackburn Blackburn
{{contradiction|the number of aircraft built|date=May 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = R.1 Blackburn
|image = Blackburn Blackburn II in Flight.jpg
|caption = Blackburn Blackburn II
|type = Carrier-based reconnaissance
|manufacturer = Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company Limited
|designer =
|first_flight = 1922
|introduction = 1923
|retired = 1931
|produced =
|number_built = 44{{cn|date=May 2023}}
|status =
|unit cost =
|primary_user = Fleet Air Arm
|more_users =
|developed_from = Blackburn T.2 Dart
|variants =
}}
The Blackburn R-1 Blackburn was a 1920s British single-engine fleet spotter/reconnaissance aircraft built by Blackburn Aircraft.
History
The Blackburn was developed to meet a naval requirement (Specification 3/21) for a carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft and gun spotting aircraft. Blackburn designed a new fuselage and used the wing and tail surfaces from the Blackburn Dart. The pilot sat in an open cockpit above the engine, a navigator sat inside the fuselage and a gun position was located at the rear of the fuselage cabin. The aircraft's two-bay wings could fold for stowage aboard aircraft carriers, with the upper wing attached directly to the fuselage, which filled the interplane gap. Armament was a single forward-firing Vickers machine gun mounted externally to the left of the pilot, with a Lewis gun on a Scarff ring for the gunner.{{sfn|Jackson|1968|pp=160–161}}
Three prototypes were flown during 1922, leading to an initial production contract for 12 aircraft.{{sfn|Jackson|1968|p=162}} The production aircraft were designated Blackburn I and the first deliveries to the Fleet Air Arm at Gosport began in April 1923. 18 more Blackburn Is were built in 1923–1924.{{sfn|Jackson|1968|p=164}} Its first operational deployment was with No. 422 Fleet Spotter Flight, which deployed aboard {{HMS|Eagle|1918|6}} in the Mediterranean in 1923.{{sfn|Thetford|1978|p=48}}
A further order was placed for 29 Blackburns with the more powerful Napier Lion V engine, designated the Blackburn II. The upper wing was raised 22½ in (0.57 m) to improve handling.{{sfn|Jackson|1968|p=164}} A few Blackburns were used as dual-control trainers and all the Blackburn Is were converted to II standard before the type became obsolete in 1931, when they were replaced by the Fairey IIIF.
Variants
;Blackburn
: Prototype, three built.
;Blackburn I
: Production version with a 449 hp (335 kW) Napier Lion IIB engines, 33 built.{{sfn|Thetford|1978|p=48}}
;Blackburn II
: Improved production version with a 464 hp (346 kW) Napier Lion V, and increased gap between wings. 29 built.{{sfn|Thetford|1978|p=49}}
File:Blackburn Blackburn trainer.jpg
;Blackburn Trainer
: Trainer version of Blackburn I, fitted with side-by-side cockpit and dual controls. Known by the Fleet Air Arm as the Bull. Two out of Blackburn I batch.{{sfn|Thetford|1978|p=50}}
Operators
; {{UK}}
- Royal Air Force{{sfn|Jackson|1968|pp=169}}
- No. 422 (Fleet Spotter) Flight RAF – 1923-28
- Royal Navy
- Fleet Air Arm{{sfn|Jackson|1968|pp=169}}
- No. 420 (Fleet Spotter) Flight RAF – 1926-28
- No. 449 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight FAA – 1929-31
- No. 450 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight FAA – 1929-31
Specifications (Blackburn I)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=British Naval Aircraft since 1912 {{sfn|Thetford|1978|p=49}}
|prime units?=imp
|crew=3
|length ft=36
|length in=2
|length note=
|span ft=45
|span in=6
|span note=
|height ft=12
|height in=6
|height note=
|wing area sqft=650
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=3929
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=5962
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=6648
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Napier Lion IIB
|eng1 type=W-12 water-cooled piston engine
|eng1 hp=450
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|max speed mph=122
|max speed note=at {{cvt|3000|ft|0}}
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=4 hours 15 minutes
|ceiling ft=12950
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin=690
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
|guns= 2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns
|avionics=
}}
See also
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
|see also=
}}
References
{{reflist|20em}}
Bibliography
{{commons category|Blackburn Blackburn}}
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |title=Blackburn Aircraft since 1909 |last=Jackson |first=A. J. |year=1968 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0-370-00053-6}}
- {{cite book |title=Aircraft of the Royal Navy since 1912 |last=Thetford |first=Owen |year=1978 |edition=4th |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0-370-30021-1}}
- {{cite book |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (part work 1982–1985) |publisher=Orbis |location=London |oclc=16544050}}
{{refend}}
{{Blackburn aircraft}}
Category:1920s British military reconnaissance aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1922
Category:Carrier-based aircraft