Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Blackburn Perth

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Top speed
  
213 km/h

Length
  
21 m

First flight
  
October 11, 1933

Wingspan
  
30 m

Retired
  
1938

Manufacturer
  
Blackburn Aircraft

Blackburn Perth wwwmsacomputercomflyingboatsoldblackburngene

C o w 37mm cannon fitted to blackburn perth flying boat


The Blackburn Perth was a British flying boat in service during the interwar period. It was essentially an upgraded 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).

Contents

Blackburn perth 1 2 gb 1933


Design and development

The Blackburn R.B.3A Perth was designed as a replacement for the earlier Iris to Air Ministry Specification 20/32. Developed from the Iris Mk. V, the Perth first flew in 1933. 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 (1.46 in) autocannon in its bows.

Four Perths were ordered for service for the RAF.

Operational history

The Perth entered service with the RAF in January 1934, when the second aircraft was delivered to No. 209 Squadron RAF at RAF Mount Batten Plymouth. Perths remained in service until 1937, being replaced by the Short Singapore and the Saro London. One aircraft was retained by the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment until 1938.

Operators

 United Kingdom
  • Royal Air Force
  • No. 204 Squadron RAF
  • No. 209 Squadron RAF
  • Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment

    • Specifications (Perth)

    Data from Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57

    General characteristics

  • Crew: five
  • Length: 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
  • Wingspan: 97 ft 0 in (29.57m)
  • Height: 26 ft  5 1⁄2 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 (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 kn (132 mph, 213 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 95 kn (109 mph, 175 km/h)
  • Range: 1,130 nmi (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

  • 1 × C.O.W 37 mm (1.46 in) automatic cannon in bow
  • 3 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns in bow, amidships and tail positions
  • Up to 2,000 lb bombs

    • References

    Blackburn Perth Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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