Beagle B.206
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| Beagle B.206 / Basset | |
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| Type | Light Transport |
| Manufacturer | Beagle Aircraft Limited |
| Maiden flight | 15 August 1961 |
| Introduced | 1965 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Produced | 1964–1969 |
| Number built | 85 |
The Beagle B.206 is a 1960s British two-seat twin-engined liaison and communication aircraft built by Beagle Aircraft Limited at Shoreham Airport and Rearsby Aerodrome.
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[edit] Design and development
The design of a twin-engined light transport began in 1960 and the prototype registered "G-ARRM" (designated the B.206X) first flew from Shoreham Airport, West Sussex on 15 August 1961[1]. The prototype aircraft was a five-seat all metal low-wing monoplane powered by two Continental flat-six engines.
The second prototype (designated B.206Y) was slightly larger with a larger span wing and seating for seven. Two aircraft were built for evaluation by the Ministry of Aviation at Boscombe Down and an order for twenty aircraft for the Royal Air Force followed.[1] [2] The RAF aircraft were named the Beagle Basset CC.1 and were built at Rearsby Aerodrome, Leicestershire.
A Series 2 aircraft with 340hp Continental turbocharged engines first flew in June 1965. The Series 2 was also fitted with a large freight door. The aircraft was soon in demand with air taxi companies and as a light transport for companies. Two aircraft were delivered to the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia.
A Series 3 was developed with a raised rear fuselage to carry 10-passengers but only three were built. When the company needed the room at Rearsby to built the Beagle Pup, production of the B.206 ended with the 85th aircraft.
[edit] Operational history
The first deliveries to RAF communications squadrons was made in May 1965. The first civil ordered aircraft was also delivered in May 1965 to Rolls-Royce Limited at Hucknall. An unusual use for one of the first aircraft registered "G-ATHO" which was bought by the Maidenhead Organ Studios Limited for transporting electronic organs.[1]
[edit] Accidents and incidents
- May 2 1977 - Automotive engineer and General Motors Corporation executive Ed Cole was killed in a Beagle B.206 Series 2 registered N500KR, crashing while making a landing approach to Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA in bad weather.[3]
[edit] Variants
- Beagle B.206X
- Prototype, 1 built.
- Beagle B.206Y
- Larger prototype, 1 built.
- Beagle B.206Z
- Pre-production, 2 built.
- Beagle B.206R (Basset CC.1)
- Military version, 20 built.
- Beagle B.206S
- B.206 Series 2 prototype.
- Beagle B.206 Series 1
- Seven-seat civil production aircraft, 11 built.
- Beagle B.206 Series 2
- Higher-performance civil production aircraft, 47 built.
- Beagle B.206 Series 3
- 10-seat version not developed, 3 built.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military operators
[edit] Planned
- South African Air Force ordered 18 aircraft for maritime use but the order was cancelled.
[edit] Civil operators
- Maidenhead Organ Studios Limited
[edit] Specifications (B.206 Series 2)
General characteristics
- Length: 33ft 8in (10.26 m)
- Wingspan: 45 ft 9½ in (13.96 m)
- Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
- Wing area: 214 ft² (19.88 m²)
- Empty weight: 4,800 lb (2177 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 7,499 lb (3401 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Rolls Royce Continental GTSIO-520-C flat-six piston engine, 340 hp (254 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 258 mph (415 km/h)
- Range: 1,600 m (2575 km)
- Service ceiling 27,100 ft (8260 m)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10006 9.
- ^ The Beagle B-206, Airliners.net.
- ^ unnamed author (date of accident May 2, 1977; database record undated). Aviation Accident Database & Synopses (text). (United States) National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
- 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.
- The Beagle B-206. Airliners.net. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.
[edit] See also
Related lists List of aircraft of the RAF
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