Blackburn Blackburn Aircraft

Production Details

Design Company:

Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co Ltd, Brough

First Flight:

August 1922

Blackburn I:

33 - Blackburn

Blackburn II:

30 - Blackburn (1 converted from Mk I)

Type Specification

Applies to:

Blackburn R.1 Blackburn I

Type:

Reconnaissance and gunnery control deck landing biplane to specification 3/21

Wing:

Two bay biplane with staggered, swept equal span wings of wood and metal construction with fabric covering. Ailerons on all four wings

Fuselage:

Tubular steel construction in the cabin area with semi-monocoque rear fuselage

Tail Unit:

Braced tailplane with split elevators mounted at top of fuselage with single rudder and fin

Landing Gear:

Crossaxle type fixed gear attached by oleo and radius rod to wing root with tailskid

Power Plant:

One 450 hp Napier Lion IIB twelve-cylinder water-cooled engine mounted in the nose driving a two blade wooden propeller

Accommodation:

Crew of three with pilot seated in open cockpit ahead of wing. Enclosed cabin between the wings with open cockpit for observer

Armament:

One forward firing Vickers gun with Lewis gun on aft mount

Span:

45 ft 6 in

Length:

36 ft 2 in

Height:

12 ft 6 in

Wing Area:

650 sq ft

Tare:

3,929 lb

All-up:

5,962 lb

Max Speed:

122 mph at 3,000 ft

Initial Climb:

690 ft/min

Service Ceiling:

12,950 ft

Endurance:

4.25 hr

Preserved in British Museums

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