British Aircraft Eagle

infobox Aircraft
name = Eagle
type = Tourer
manufacturer = British Klemm / British Aircraft Manufacturing


caption =
designer =
first flight = 1934
introduced =
introduction=
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 42
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The B.A. Eagle was a British light aircraft of the 1930's. It was a three seat low wing monoplane built by the "British Klemm Aeroplane Company" (which later became known as the British Aircraft Manufacturing Co.) 42 were built.

Design and development

The British Klemm Aeroplane Company developed the B.K.1 Eagle a three seat light aircraft as a follow up to the British Klemm Swallow, its licensed copy of the Klemm L.25. While similar to the Klemm L.32, it was an entirely independent design by G Handasyde, the chief designer of British Klemm, first flying in early 1934 cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1|year= 1974|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0 370 10006 9 ] . The Eagle was a low wing wooden monoplane with a retractable undercarriage. It had an enclosed enclosed cabin for the pilot and two passengers. Six of this initial version of the Eagle were built .

As was the case with the Swallow, a revised version was introduced in 1935 when British Klemm was renamed the British Aircraft Manufacturing Co. This version, the B.A. Eagle II had a revised rudder and a deepened rear fuselage. 37 Eagle IIs were built, including a single example fitted with a fixed undercarriage.

Operational history

Eagles were mainly sold to private owners, with a few also being used by flying clubs or as executive transports. Eagles were also used for air racing, with several being entered into the King's Cup Races between 1935 and 1937. Single examples were also entered into the MacRobertson Air Race of 1934 between Britain and Australia and the 1936 Schlesinger Race between England and South Africa neither aircraft completed the races.

On the outbreak of the Second World War, seven Eagles were impressed into RAF service in the UK, with two in Australia and one in Kenya [ cite web |url=http://www.jaapteeuwen.com/ww2aircraft/html%20pages/BRITISH%20AIRCRAFT%20BKI%20EAGLE.htm |title= British Aircraft of World War II - British Aircraft Eagle|accessdate=2007-07-09 |format= |work= ] , but the undercarriages proved vulnerable in RAF service, with most airframes being written off due to undercarriage failure .

Variants

;B.K. Eagle:Initial production version, 6 built.;B.A. Eagle 2:Revised production version with modified structure, 37 built.

Operators

;UK
*Royal Air Force operated 7 aircraft.

urvivors

Two Eagles currently survived.;"G-AFAX":Exhibited at the "Fundaćion Infante de Orleans" air museum at Madrid, Spain.;"VH-UTI":Exhibited in Australia.

pecifications (B.K. Eagle)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=British Civil Aircraft since 1919

crew=Two
capacity=
length main= 26 ft 0 in
length alt= 7.93 m
span main= 39 ft 3 in
span alt= 11.97 m
height main= 6 ft 9 in
height alt= 2.06 m
area main= 200 ft²
area alt= 18.6 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1,450 lb
empty weight alt= 659 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 2,400 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 1,091 kg
more general=

engine (prop)=de Havilland Gypsy Major
type of prop= 4 cylinder air cooled inline engine
number of props=1
power main= 130 hp
power alt= 97 kW
power original=
max speed main= 129 knots
max speed alt= 148 mph, 238 km/h
cruise speed main= 113 knots
cruise speed alt= 130 mph, 209 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 565 nm
range alt= 650 mi, 1,047 km
ceiling main= 16,000 ft
ceiling alt= 4,900 m
climb rate main= 700 ft/min
climb rate alt= 3.6 m/s
loading main= 12.0 lb/ft²
loading alt= 58.7 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.054 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.089 kW/kg
more performance=

armament=

avionics=

References

External links

* [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=BA%20Eagle&distinct_entry=true Airliners.net - Photos]

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=732 British Aircraft Directory]

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=

sequence=British Aircraft Swallow - Eagle

lists=

see also=