British Aircraft Double Eagle

B.A.IV Double Eagle
Double Eagle in 1936
Role Twin-engined utlility monoplane
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer British Aircraft Manufacturing Company
First flight 1936
Number built 3


The British Aircraft B.A.IV Double Eagle was a British twin-engined six-seater monoplane designed and built by the British Aircraft Manufacturing Company of London Air Park, Hanworth, England.

Design and development

The Double Eagle was a twin-engined high-wing monoplane with a retractable landing gear, the main gear retracting backwards into the engine nacelles.[1] The first aircraft (Y-1) was powered by two 130hp (97kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major engines, and it first flew from Hanworth on 3 July 1936, later registered G-ADVV. The second aircraft (G-AEIN) was fitted with two de Havilland Gipsy VIs.[1] Three aircraft were built, although one citation is claimed to say that only two Double Eagles were produced, and that both were impressed by the RAF.[2]

Operational history

In 1940, the first aircraft (G-ADVV) was impressed into the Royal Air Force as ES949,[1] and was finally used as an instructional airframe by Armstrong-Whitworth, and later Parnall.

On 29 September 1936, the second aircraft (G-AEIN), piloted by Tommy Rose, took off in the Schlesinger Race (from Portsmouth to Johannesburg). It was retired when it suffered damage at Almaza Airfield, due to collapse of the undercarriage.[3] In 1940, it was impressed into the RAF as ES950, and ended its life in 1941 as an instructional airframe.[1]

The third aircraft (ZS-AIY) was sold to the Aircraft Operating Company in South Africa as an aerial surveying aircraft, and was then re-registered ZS-AOC. In 1940, it was impressed into service with 60 Squadron of the South African Air Force as serial number 1415.[1][4]

Operators

 South Africa
 United Kingdom

Specifications (with Gipsy Major)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

Performance

See also


Related lists

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Aircraft Double Eagle.

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jackson 1973, page 295
  2. ↑ British Multi-Engined Support Aircraft of WW II, ed. Hooks M, Kelsey 2013
  3. ↑ http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1936/1936%20-%202705.html
  4. ↑ "South African Air Force (Unofficial)". 60 Squadron. Retrieved 19 September 2011.

Bibliography

  • Jackson, A.J. (1973). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.