Blackburn Sidecar

Blackburn Sidecar
Role	Ultra-light aircraft
National origin	England
Manufacturer	Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Co. Ltd.
Introduction	1919
Number built	1

The Blackburn Sidecar was a two-seat ultra-light aircraft built by the Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company at Brough in 1919. There is no evidence that it ever flew.

Development

The side-by-side two-seat Sidecar was built by the Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Co. Ltd. at Brough in 1919 for Mr.K.M Smith.

It was a small mid-winged aircraft, ^[1] with wings and other flying surfaces of constant chord. It had no fixed tail surfaces. The triangular cross-section fuselage was unusually deep, such that the undercarriage cross-axle was attached to the keel or bottom longeron.

The sole Sidecar, eventually registered G-EALN on 26 August 1920, was exhibited at Harrods Department store in Knightsbridge during March 1919. It did not fly with the low-powered Gnat. ^[1] About July 1921 the aircraft was sold to Mr. Haydon-White, Blackburn's London manager who had it re-engined with a 100-horsepower (75-kilowatt) Anzani radial. ^[1] By October 1921 it was logged as unairworthy. There is no record of it flying during these four months. ^[1]

Specifications (Gnat)

Data fromJanes 1919.

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
• Wingspan: 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)
• Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) ^[1]
• Wing area: 123 sq ft (11.43 m²) ^[1]
• Empty weight: 392 lb (178 kg) ^[1]
• Gross weight: 850 lb (386 kg) ^[1]
• Powerplant: 1 × ABC Gnat flat twin ^[1] , 40 hp (30 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 83 mph (134 km/h, 72 kn) (estimated)
• Range: 300 mi (480 km, 260 nmi) (estimated) ^[1]

References

Notes

1. Jackson 1968 , pp. 135–8

Bibliography

• Jane's All the Worlds Aircraft 1919
• Jackson, A.J. (1968). Blackburn Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam Publishing. pp. 135–138. ISBN   0-370-00053-6 . Retrieved 8 September 2024.