| Beagle B.206 / Basset | |
|---|---|
| Role | Light Transport |
| Manufacturer | Beagle Aircraft Limited |
| First flight | 15 August 1961 |
| Introduction | 1965 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Produced | 1964–1969 |
| Number built | 85 |
The Beagle B.206 is a 1960s British seven-seat twin-engined liaison and communication aircraft built by Beagle Aircraft Limited at Shoreham Airport and Rearsby Aerodrome.
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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. Owned since 1990 by Brooklands Museum and recently restored by volunteers at Shoreham Airport, this historic aeroplane is now on loan to the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum at Farnborough, Hampshire, arriving there by road on 10 December 2011.
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 designated Basset CC.1 and were built at Rearsby Aerodrome, Leicestershire.
A Series 2 aircraft with 340 hp Continental turbocharged engines first flew on 23 June 1965.[1] 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. Three aircraft were delivered to the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia.[3]
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 build the Beagle Pup, production of the B.206 ended with the 85th aircraft.[3]
The first deliveries to RAF communications squadrons was made in May 1965. It was powered by two Rolls Royce/Continental GIO-470 six cylinder horizontally-opposed engines giving it a maximum speed of 220 mph and a range of 1,645 miles. Up to eight persons could be carried. A competition was held at Northolt in March 1963 between the B206 and the Devon for an aircraft to replace the Avro Anson, resulting in 20 Bassets being ordered for the RAF.
The Northolt aircraft were originally based at RAF Bovingdon near Watford in Hertfordshire with the Southern Communications Squadron until the 'SCS' moved to Northolt and became 207sqn on 4 February 1969. Another squadron, the Northern Communications Squadron, operated Bassets from RAF Topcliffe near Thirsk in North Yorkshire, later becoming 26sqn at RAF Wyton. Most aircraft were removed from RAF service on 2 May 1974 and sold for civil use.
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.[3]
Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919: Volume I [6]
General characteristics
Performance
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