Blackburn Perth
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| Perth | |
|---|---|
| Type | flying boat |
| Manufacturer | Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Company |
| Maiden flight | 11 October 1933 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| 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 Blackburn 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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[edit] Design and development
The Blackburn R.B.3A Perth was designed as a replacement to the earlier Blackburn 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 automatic cannon in its bows.
Four Perths were ordered for service for the RAF.[2]
[edit] Operational history
The Perth entered service with the RAF in January 1934[2], when the second aircraft was delivered to No. 209 Squadron RAF at Mount Batten Plymouth [1]. Perths remained in service until 1937 [1], being replaced by the Short Singapore and the Saro London.
[edit] Operators
- Royal Air Force
- No. 204 Squadron RAF
- No. 209 Squadron RAF
[edit] Specifications (Perth)
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 5½ 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 [2] (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 knots (132 mph, 213 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 95 knots [2] (109 mph, 175 km/h)
- Range: 1,130 nm (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
- One C.O.W 37 mm automatic cannon in bow
- Three .303 in Lewis guns in bow, amidships and tail positions
- Up to 2,000 lb bombs
[edit] References
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
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