Blackburn Perth

infobox Aircraft
name = Perth
type = flying boat
logo =
manufacturer = Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Company


caption =
designer =
first flight = 11 October 1933
introduction =
retired =
status =
primary user = Royal Air Force
more users =
produced =
number built = 4
unit cost =
developed from = Blackburn Iris
variants with their own articles =

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).

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.Cite book|author=Thetford, Owen|title=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57|edition= 1st edition |publisher=Putnam |location= London|pages= p.76-77|year=1957|id= 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.cite book|author=Donald, David (Editor)|title = The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft|year = 1997|pages=p.134|publisher = Aerospace Publishing|id =ISBN 1-85605-375-X]

Operational history

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

Operators

; UK
* Royal Air Force
** No. 204 Squadron RAF
** No. 209 Squadron RAF

pecifications (Perth)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57
crew=Five
capacity=
length main= 70 ft 0 in
length alt=21.34 m
span main= 97 ft 0 in
span alt= 29.57m
height main= 26 ft 5½ in
height alt= 8.06 m
area main= 2,461 ft²
area alt= 233.3 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 20,927 lb
empty weight alt= 9,492 kg
loaded weight main= 32,500 lb
loaded weight alt= 14,772 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 38,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 17,237 kg
more general=
engine (prop)= Rolls-Royce Buzzard II MS
type of prop=12 cylinder water-cooled inline engine
number of props=3
power main= 825 hp
power alt= 615 kW
power original=
max speed main= 115 knots
max speed alt= 132 mph, 213 km/h
cruise speed main= 95 knots
cruise speed alt= 109 mph, 175 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 1,130 nm
range alt= 1,300 mi, 2,093 km
ceiling main= 11,500 ft
ceiling alt= 3,500 m
climb rate main= 800 ft/min
climb rate alt= 4.1 m/s
loading main= 13.2 lb/ft²
loading alt= 63.3 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.076 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.12 kW/kg
more performance=
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
avionics=

References

External links

* [http://www.msacomputer.com/FlyingBoats-old/Blackburn-General/Blackburn-General.html British Blackburn-General Flying Boats]

ee also