BAT Bantam
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| F.K.23 Bantam | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Single-seat Fighter |
| Manufacturer | British Aerial Transport Company Limited |
| Designed by | Frederick Koolhoven |
| Maiden flight | 1918 |
| Introduced | 1921 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 15 |
The BAT F.K.23 Bantam was a British single-seat fighter biplane produced by British Aerial Transport Company Limited of London during World War I.
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[edit] Design and development
Frederick Koolhoven's first design for the British Aerial Transport Company (BAT) was the F.K.22 single-seat fighter. It was a two-bay biplane of wooden construction. It was planned to have a 120hp (90 kW) A.B.C Mosquito radial engine but the failure of this engine led to the installation of the 170hp (127kW) A.B.C.Wasp I in the first and third aircraft. The second machine was fitted with a 100hp (75kW) Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine and was the first to fly at Martlesham Heath in January 1918. The original contract called for six development aircraft but three aircraft were built as the F.K.23 Bantam I, the second prototype then being renamed the Bantam II. The Bantam I was the same wooden structure but was slightly smaller. Two further prototypes of the larger design were also built followed by at least 9 development aircraft. One aircraft was delivered to the Royal Aircraft Establishment on 26 July 1918, one was delivered to the French at Villacoublay and a further aircraft to the United States Army Air Corps at Wright Field in 1922.
The production Bantam had to be modified due to unsatisfactory spin characteristics of the prototypes. Continuous engine problems and downsizing of the Royal Air Force were factors in no more orders for the Bantam. Koolhoven returned to Netherlands with one aircraft where it was re-engined with a 200hp (149kW) Armstrong Siddeley Lynx radial engine. Several examples were operated as civil racing aircraft.
A side-by-side two-seat aerobatic and racing version was developed as the F.K.27 but only one was built.
[edit] Variants
- F.K.22 Bantam I Prototypes and evaluation version, 2 built.
- F.K.23 Bantam II Production aircraft, 3 prototypes + 9 aircraft were built.
- F.K.27 Two-seat racing variant, 1 built.
[edit] Operators
- French Air Force received 1 aircraft for evaluation.
- Koolhoven factory operated 1 aircraft.
- Royal Air Force operated 1 aircraft.
- United States Army Air Corps received 1 aircraft for evaluation.
[edit] Survivors
- One aircraft, registered K-123, is on display at the Aviodome, Netherlands.
[edit] Specifications (F.K.23 Bantam)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 18 ft 5 in (5.61 m)
- Wingspan: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
- Height: 6ft 9 in (2.06 m)
- Wing area: 185 ft² (17.19²)
- Empty weight: 833 lb (378 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,321 lb (599 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× A.B.C Wasp I radial piston, 170 hp (127 kw)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 128 mph (206 km/h)
- Service ceiling 20,000 ft (6100 m)
Armament
- two fixed forward firing 0.303in (7.7mm) Vickers machine-gun
[edit] References
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10006 9.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
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