M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)

J.Bruce British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 (Putnam)

Blackburn Seaplane Type L

  THE first biplane to be built by the Blackburn Company was a two-seat tractor floatplane which was designed to participate in the 1914 Daily Mail “Circuit of Britain” seaplane race. The machine was allotted the racing number 8, and was to have been flown by Sidney Pickles, but the outbreak of war prevented the contest from taking place. In common with several of its contemporaries the Blackburn machine, which was designated Type L, was taken over by the Admiralty. For war service it was, somewhat surprisingly, fitted with a machine-gun.
  The Type L was a handsome two-bay biplane with strut-braced extensions on the upper wing; ailerons were fitted to the upper wing only. The fuselage represented a breakaway from earlier Blackburn practice, for it was of rectangular cross-section, whereas all the monoplane antecedents of the Type L had had fuselages of triangular cross-section. The main longerons were of ash, and the fuselage structure embodied no wire cross-bracing: rigidity was obtained by the use of diagonal wooden members. The fuel tanks were mounted under the rounded top decking: in front of the pilot (who occupied the rear seat) was a tank containing 32 gallons of petrol, and in front of the passenger there was a divided tank which held five gallons of oil and sixteen of petrol.
  The machine was powered by a 130 h.p. Salmson water-cooled radial engine, the radiators for which were mounted outside the fuselage on either side of the front cockpit.
  The most noteworthy feature of the Type L lay in the design of its floats. Each float had two steps, the forward one of which was remarkably near the bow. The forward portion of each float had a vee bottom which gradually flattened out towards the second step, aft of which the bottom was flat but the lower line of the float was slightly concave in side elevation.
  The tail-unit was of typical Blackburn outline. The rudder was balanced, but the balance area was below the fuselage. All control cables were duplicated.
  It seems that the Type L did not see any real war service, despite its impressment by the Admiralty. It was taken to Scarborough and remained there for some six weeks; during that time it was apparently maintained by Blackburn mechanics. Early in 1915 it was taken up by Rowland Ding, the well-known pre-war pilot who became a Blackburn test pilot. During this flight it flew into a cliff and was wrecked.


SPECIFICATION
  Manufacturers: The Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Co., Ltd., Olympia, Leeds.
  Power: 130 h.p. Salmson radial engine.
  Dimensions: Span: upper 49 ft 6 in., lower 35 ft. Length: 32 ft 6 in. Chord: 5 ft 9 in. Gap: maximum 6 ft. Stagger: nil. Dihedral: upper nil, lower 2°. Incidence: 40. Span of tail: 11 ft 6 in. Distance between float centres: 8 ft 3 in.
  Areas: Wings: upper 294 1/2 sq ft, lower 186 1/2 sq ft, total 481 sq ft. Ailerons: each 21 sq ft, total 42 sq ft. Tailplane: 37-25 sq ft. Elevators: 24 sq ft. Fin: 5-75 sq ft. Rudder: 13-25 sq ft.
  Weights: Empty: 1,717 lb. Loaded: 2,475 lb.
  Performance: Maximum speed at sea level: 81 m.p.h.; at 10,000 ft: 64 m.p.h. Climb to 5,000 ft: 34 min. Ceiling: 11,000 ft. Endurance: 5 1/2 hours.
  Tankage: Petrol: 48 gallons. Oil: 5 gallons.
  Armament: One machine-gun, presumably a Lewis, fired by the passenger.

P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)

Blackburn L

   For the 1914 Circuit of Britain Race organized by the Daily Mail, the Blackburn Company broke away from its predilection for the monoplane and built its first biplane. The necessity for providing adequate support for the lower wings, and also a strong anchorage for the float struts, brought about a further departure from the traditional Blackburn triangular fuselage and resulted in a normal rectangular section being used. This was of fairly broad aspect, to give smooth lines to the fuselage by accommodating the diameter of the 130 h.p. Salmson (Canton-Unne) radial engine which was chosen to power the machine. Although the engine was a radial, it was water-cooled, and the accompanying radiators were mounted in an upright position on each side of the front cockpit.
   Wire tie-bracing was omitted, its place being taken by diagonal wooden members. The two-bay wings were of comparatively broad span, and the upper extensions were strut-braced to the bases of the outer pairs of inter-plane struts. Yet another departure from earlier Blackburn practice was the provision of long-span ailerons, instead of warping, which were fitted to the upper wings. Two main floats, incorporating two steps each and set well apart, and a plain tail float, comprised the landing-gear.
   The Type L was entered as No. 8 in the Circuit of Britain contest, and the well-known pilot Sydney Pickles was selected to fly the machine in the race. The imminence of war brought about the abandonment of the competition and when the conflict broke out on 4th August, 1914, the seaplane in common with several other aircraft was taken over by the Admiralty and was taken to Scarborough, remaining there for about six weeks. A machine-gun was fitted to it, but the end of the sole Type L came when it was flown into a cliff by W. Rowland Ding early in 1915, subsequently being abandoned as irreparable.

SPECIFICATION

   Description: Two-seat tractor biplane seaplane. Wooden structure, fabric covered.
   Manufacturers: Blackburn Aeroplane Co. Ltd., Olympia, Leeds.
   Power Plant: 130 h.p. Salmson (Canton-Unne).
   Dimensions: Span, 49 ft. 6 ins. Length, 32 ft. 6 ins. Wing area, 481 sq. ft.
   Weights: Empty, 1,717 lb. Loaded, 2,475 lb.
   Performance: Maximum speed, 81 m.p.h. Landing speed, 45 m.p.h. Endurance, 5.5 hrs.

H.King Armament of British Aircraft (Putnam)

Blackburn Seaplane Type L. During 1915 this aircraft is said to have been armed with a machine-gun (presumed Lewis) for service with the RNAS, and an early Blackburn document states that it was originally designed to meet the requirements of a coastal-patrol seaplane, with an observer gunner forward and the pilot behind. The same document mentions a load of two '165-lb' bombs (presumed 65-lb), though it is doubtful if these were ever carried.

Jane's All The World Aircraft 1913

BLACKBURN Aeroplanes. Blackburn Aeroplane Co., Balm Road, Leeds. Blackburn produced his first machine early in 1910 (see 1911 edition for details). In the latter part of that year he designed the machine which ultimately developed into the Blackburn military. In 1911 other types were produced, all being fitted with the patent Blackburn triple control. School at Filey. Hucks has been the principal Blackburn flyer. The type has also been very successfully flown by naval officers. Capacity of works: about 24 a year.

   1912-13 1912-13 1913.
   Military. 2-seater. Military. 1-seater Hydro-biplane.
   2-seater

Length.............. 32 feet (9.75 m.) 5 feet (7.60 m.) 33 feet (10 m.)
Span................ 40 feet (12.20 m.) 32 feet (9.75 m.) 44 & 36 ft
   (13.4 & 11 m.)
Area ............... 276 sq.ft. (26 m?.) 195 sq.ft. (18 m?.) 410 sq.ft. (38 m?.)
Weight (total)...... ... 750 lbs. (340 kgs.) 1250 lbs. (507 kgs.)
Motor...........h.p. ... 50 Gnome. 80 Gnome or
   100 Anzani
Speed............... 55-65 m. 60 m. (97 km.) 65 m. (105 km.)
   (90-105 km.)

Notes.--Petrol for 5 hours (higher endurances can be fitted). Specially designed for military work--all steel construction. All parts unwelded to admit of rapid displacement. Clear observation provided for.

Fuselage.--The fuselage is V shaped and constructed of weldless steel tubing in the form of a lattice girder. The main longitudinals are of round section; cross members, oval section. Connections are not welded but made with strong steel clips so that should any member become damaged a new one can be readily arranged. The front portion is covered with sheet metal giving additional strength and reducing the head resistance. Stream line form tapering towards the rear which is covered with fabric.

Chassis.--Two long skids connected up to fuselage by metal struts. Each skid borne by a pair of wheels, axle held down by elastic shock absorbers. On the axle of the wheels are fitted steel springs which take side thrust. Each pair of wheels held by radius rods forming a bogie.

Control.--Patent Blackburn triple, independent or simultaneous on hand wheel, but special foot control for rudder is fitted if desired.

In 1912, five machines were built, of which two were of the mil. model. Others, non-military models (see last edition.)

Журнал Flight

Flight, September 25, 1914.

THE "ROUND BRITAIN" MACHINES.

   THE machine which was officially numbered 8 in the Circuit of Britain, and for which Mr. Sydney Pickles had been nominated pilot, was

The Blackburn Tractor Seaplane.
   Although being of the biplane type the latest Blackburn follows along the lines of the monoplanes previously produced by this firm. As seen from the side, the body of the seaplane greatly resembles that of the monoplanes, but constructionally it differs from the latter in that it is of rectangular section instead of the triangular section employed in the monoplanes. The four ash longitudinals converge towards the rear, where they join on to a vertical knife edge. Cross bracing is still by diagonal wooden strips instead of the more universally adopted wire bracing. A turtle back extends from the engine cowl back to the tail plane, and has openings cut in it for the pilot and passenger. These sit one behind the other in separate cockpits, with the pilot at the rear.
   Petrol is carried in two tanks mounted on the upper longitudinals of the body; one in front of the pilot, containing 32 gallons, and a second one in front of the passenger, holding 21 gallons. The front tank is divided by a transverse partition, the front portion containing five gallons of oil, or sufficient for a flight of five hours' duration. The petrol tank in front of the pilot has its rear end sloping slightly forward to form a dash, on which are mounted a complete set of instruments, including revs, indicator, altimeter, compass, clock, &c.
   The controls consist of a rotatable hand wheel mounted on a single, central, tubular column, which is, in turn, secured to a transverse rocking shaft, working in bearings on two longitudinal members inside the body. Rotation of the wheel operates the balancing flaps, a to-and-fro movement of the wheel and column actuates the elevator, and the rudder is controlled by a pivoted foot bar.
   In the nose of the body is mounted the engine - a 130 h.p. Salmson-Canton-Unne motor driving a Blackburn propeller. An aluminium cowl encloses practically the whole of the engine, and extends back in the shape of a turtle-back, over the top of the body. The main planes, of which the lower one only is set at a dihedral angle, are characterized by having their trailing edge longer than the leading edge. Balancing flaps are hinged to the trailing edge of the top plane only. These are inter-connected by cables passing over pulleys on top of the upper plane, and running across to the corresponding pulleys on the other side. From the lower surface another series of cables pass from the balancing flaps to the control wheel. The main planes are braced internally and fitted with stout compression struts between the spars. Two pairs of interplane struts connect the planes on each side of the body, and cable bracing is employed.
   At the rear of the fuselage is a set of tail planes, consisting of a cambered, fixed tail plane, a divided elevator, a vertical fin and a balanced rudder. A small float, supported from the body on four steel tubes, takes the weight of the tail planes when the machine is at rest. The control cables, which are all in duplicate, pass from crank-levers on the directional organs, through openings in the body, to the controls.
   Carried on a structure of strong wood struts are the two main floats, which are of the stepped type. Near the nose the floats have a pronounced Vee bottom, which gradually flattens out towards the third step, which is flat in section, although having a marked camber, as seen from the side. The sides of the floats are flat and vertical, and a curved deck allows the water to run off quickly. The chassis struts, of which there are three to each float, run from the junction of the main spars to the body and from a point immediately under the engine, respectively. The lower ends of the struts are attached to transverse steel tubes, tying them together, and the floats are secured to the transverse tubes by steel clips, as seen in the accompanying illustrations.
   The weight of the machine empty is 1,500 lbs. and loaded about 2,200 lbs. A speed range of from 45 to 75 m.p.h. is anticipated.


Flight, December 11, 1919.

"MILESTONES"
THE BLACKBURN MACHINES.

   LIKE one or two other firms that date back to the beginning of aviation in this country, the Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co., Ltd., of Leeds, as the firm is now styled, commenced their career as constructors of aeroplanes of the monoplane type. These machines had, at first, some resemblance to the famous French Antoinette monoplanes, with their tapered, square-ended wings set at a large dihedral angle, and with triangular-shaped rudders above and below the level of the elevators. They differed considerably from the Antoinette machines in many respects, however, not only in the matter of power plant, which was in those early days either Gnomes or Isaacson radials, whereas the Antoinette had Antoinette water-cooled engines, but also in the wing bracing. The characteristic feature of the Antoinette monoplanes was, it may be remembered, the king post type of bracing. The Blackburn monoplanes had the usual monoplane bracing, and also its undercarriage was of totally different design, being of what was known in those days as the Farman type - that is to say, a wheel and skid combination. The body was of triangular section throughout, braced by wood members instead of wires. Perhaps the most original detail of those early machines was the controls, which were in the form of a wheel mounted on a horizontal longitudinal shaft, which was secured at its forward end by a universal joint. Rotation of the wheel operated the wing warping, an up-and-down motion actuated the elevators, while the rudder was worked by shifting the wheel bodily in a sideways direction. The feet thus took no part whatever in the control of the machine.
   As time went on and aeroplane controls commenced to become more standardised, this unique form of controls was discarded in favour of one of more orthodox design. Also, the machines generally were "cleaned up," improving not only the appearance of the machine but also its aerodynamic qualities. At the Olympia Aero Show of 1914 was exhibited the most modern version of the Blackburn monoplane, which was thought a great deal of in those days, and in which the Antoinette influence was rapidly disappearing, the only feature in common being the comparatively large size (for monoplanes) of both machines.
   During the same year, 1914, the first Blackburn biplane made its appearance. This machine was a seaplane designed for the Daily Mail "Circuit of Britain," which was postponed owing to the outbreak of War. In a general way it resembled the Blackburn monoplanes, but instead of the triangular section body which had characterized the monoplanes, the seaplane had a rectangular section fuselage. As the race was called off, the biplane-seaplane, which was to have been piloted by Mr. Sydney Pickles, did not have an opportunity of showing its capabilities in peaceful competition, but quite early in the War she was modified to carry a machine gun, and hence became known as

The "Type L" Seaplane. (September, 1914)
   This machine was fitted with a Salmson Canton-Unne engine of the water-cooled radial type, the radiators being mounted on the sides of the fuselage. Considering the power loading (over 19 lbs./h.p.), the performance was quite good, and the flight range (445 miles) was rather out of the usual for those days.