Blackburn Iris Aircraft

Production Details

Design Company:

The Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co Ltd, Leeds and Brough

First Flight:

19 June 1926

Iris I:

1 - Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co Ltd

Iris II:

1 (converted from Iris I)

Iris III:

4 - Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co Ltd

Iris IV:

1 (converted from Iris II)

Iris V:

3 - Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co Ltd

Type Specification

Applies to:

Blackburn R.B.1 Iris I

Type:

Long range reconnaissance flying boat

Wing:

Three bay biplane wing centre section with two bay extensions. Wooden spars and ribs with ailerons on all four wings

Hull:

Plywood covered wooden construction mounted below lower wing

Tail Unit:

Biplane tail with elevator on upper plane and three rudders

Landing Gear:

None

Power Plant:

Three 650 hp Rolls-Royce Condor III engines mounted between the wings in tractor configuration

Accommodation:

Two pilots side by side in open cockpit forward of wing, with three additional open cockpits plus large cabin. Usual crew of five

Armament:

Lewis guns on mounts at forward and aft open cockpits plus 1,040 lb of bombs

Span:

95 ft 6 in

Length:

66 ft 6 in

Height:

24 ft 6 in

Wing Area:

2,461 sq ft

Tare:

19,096 lb

All-up:

27,608 lb

Speed:

115 mph

Initial Climb:

602 ft/min

Service Ceiling:

11,850 ft

Range:

560 miles

Preserved in British Museums

Web Sites