Blackburn Perth
| R.B.3A Perth | |
|---|---|
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| A Perth, flying with the MAEE in 1935 | |
| Role | Flying boat |
| Manufacturer | Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Company |
| First flight | 11 October 1933 |
| Introduction | 1934 |
| Retired | 1938 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Produced | 1933-1934 |
| Number built | 4 |
| Developed from | Blackburn Iris |
The Blackburn Perth was a British flying-boat during the inter-war period. It was essentially an upgraded Iris, hence the largest flying-boat to serve with the Royal Air Force at the time (and the largest biplane flying boat ever to serve with the RAF).
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Design and development [edit]
The Blackburn R.B.3A Perth was designed as a replacement to the earlier Iris to Air Ministry Specification 20/32. Developed from the Iris Mk. V, the Perth first flew in 1933.[1] It differed from the Iris by replacing the Rolls-Royce Condor engines of the Iris by more powerful Rolls-Royce Buzzards and having an enclosed cockpit for the pilots. Unusually, in addition to its normal armament, the Perth was fitted with a Coventry Ordnance Works C.O.W 37 mm (1.46 in) autocannon in its bows.[2]
Four Perths were ordered for service for the RAF.[3]
Operational history [edit]
The Perth entered service with the RAF in January 1934,[3] when the second aircraft was delivered to No. 209 Squadron RAF at RAF Mount Batten Plymouth.[1] Perths remained in service until 1937,[1] being replaced by the Short Singapore and the Saro London. One aircraft was retained by the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment until 1938.
Operators [edit]
Specifications (Perth) [edit]
Data from Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57 [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: Five
- Length: 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
- Wingspan: 97 ft 0 in (29.57m)
- Height: 26 ft 5 1⁄2 in (8.06 m)
- Wing area: 2,461 ft2 (233.3 m2)
- Empty weight: 20,927 lb (9,492 kg)
- Loaded weight: 32,500 lb (14,772 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 38,000 lb [3] (17,237 kg)
- Powerplant: 3 × Rolls-Royce Buzzard II MS 12-cylinder water-cooled inline engine, 825 hp (615 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 115 kn (132 mph, 213 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 95 kn [3] (109 mph, 175 km/h)
- Range: 1,130 nmi (1,300 mi, 2,093 km)
- Service ceiling: 11,500 ft (3,500 m)
- Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)
- Wing loading: 13.2 lb/ft2 (63.3 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.076 hp/lb (0.12 kW/kg)
Armament
- 1 × C.O.W 37 mm (1.46 in) automatic cannon in bow
- 3 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns in bow, amidships and tail positions
- Up to 2,000 lb bombs
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d Thetford, Owen (1957). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57 (1st ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 76–77.
- ^ "C.O.W. 37mm cannon fitted to Blackburn Perth flying boat", YouTube
- ^ a b c d Donald, David (Editor) (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. p. 134. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
External links [edit]
- British Blackburn-General Flying Boats
- "New Plane Hunts Submarines" Popular Science, January 1934
- "Huge All Metal Flying Boat Weighs Ten Tons" Popular Mechanics, March 1931
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