J.Bruce British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 (Putnam)
B.A.T. F.K.24, Baboon
THE Baboon was a small two-seat training biplane, in the design of which Koolhoven had aimed at ease of production and interchangeability of components. The fuselage was a very simple box structure with a rounded top-decking which was the only concession to aesthetics or aerodynamics in the entire design. The fuselage was considerably strengthened by its plywood covering. The A.B.C. Wasp radial engine was mounted on the flat-nose bulkhead and was innocent of any pretence at fairing; the interplane and centre-section struts were plain steel tubes without fairings; and all flight surfaces were straight-edged and square-cut. The undercarriage was the same wide-track, split-axle type used on the Bantam.
Interchangeability of components was held to be a desirable feature of trainer aircraft, which could be expected to suffer more damage than other types. Koolhoven, with typical ingenuity, carried the idea almost to its extreme in the Baboon: not only were the upper and lower mainplanes interchangeable, but the ailerons, elevators and rudder were all identical surfaces.
The Baboon was not officially adopted, but survived the Armistice and went on the British Civil Register as G-EACO.
SPECIFICATION
Manufacturers: The British Aerial Transport Co., Ltd., Hythe Road, Willesden, London, N.W.
Power: 170 h.p. A.B.C. Wasp I.
Dimensions: Span: 25 ft. Length: 22 ft 8 in. Height: 8 ft 10 in. Chord: 5 ft yin. Gap: 4 ft 8 1/2 in. Stagger: nil. Dihedral: 2. Span of tail: 9 ft 10 in. Airscrew diameter: 7 ft 10 in.
Areas: Wings: 259 sq ft. Ailerons: each 6 sq ft, total 24 sq ft. Tailplane: 15-75 sq ft. Elevators: 12 sq ft. Fin: 5-25 sq ft. Rudder: 6 sq ft.
Weights: Empty: 950 lb. Disposable load: 400 lb.
Performance: Maximum speed at ground level: 90 m.p.h. Climb to 10,000 ft: 12 min. Endurance: 2 hours.
Tankage: Petrol: 12 gallons.
Armament: None.
Serial Numbers: D.9731-D.9736. It is believed that only D.9731 was built.
A.Jackson British Civil Aircraft since 1919 vol.1 (Putnam)
B.A.T. F.K.24 BABOON
Two-seat wooden trainer powered by one 170-h.p. A.B.C. Wasp I radial, built at Willesden in July 1918. One aircraft only: K-124/G-EACO, formerly R.A.F. D9731, registered to the British Aerial Transport Co. Ltd. 29.5.19. Raced at Hendon by Christopher Draper, winning the 20-mile cross-country event in July 1919. Span, 25 ft. Length, 22 ft. 8 in. Tare wt., 950 lb. A.U.W., 1,350 lb. Max. speed, 90 m.p.h.
Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919
A small dual control two-seater, designed for training purposes.
Very great attention has been paid in design to ease of manufacture and interchangeability of parts.
As an instance of this it may be noted that ailerons, rudder and elevators are all identical and interchangeable.
The following are the leading particulars.
Specification.
Type of machine Two-seater Biplane (dual control).
Name or type No. of machine B.A.T. F.K.24 "Baboon"
Purpose for which intended Training.
Span 25 ft
Chord 5 ft. 7 in.
Gap, maximum and minimum 4 ft. 8 1/2 in.
Stagger Nil.
Dihedral 2 deg. upper and lower planes.
Overall length 22 ft. 8 in.
Overall height 8 ft. 10 in.
Total area of planes 259 sq. ft.
Ailerons On upper and lower planes.
Area of each and total area of ailerons
Each 6 sq. ft.
Total 24 sq. ft.
Span of tail 9 ft. 10 in.
Total area of tail 27.75 sq. ft. (including elevators).
Area of elevators 12 sq. ft.
Area of rudder 6 sq. ft.
Area of fin 5.25 sq. ft.
Max. cross sectional area of body 7.5 sq. ft.
Side area of body 52 sq. ft.
Engine (type and B.H.P.) 170 A.B.C. Wasp I.
Revs, at nominal b.h.p. 1850 r.p.m.
Propeller (make and type, etc.) B.A.T. 2 blade Tractor dia. 7 ft. 10 in., pitch 5ft.
Weight of machine empty 950 lbs.
Load per sq. ft 5.2 lbs.
Weight per h.p. 7.95 lbs.
Tank capacity In hours 2 hours.
Tank capacity in gallons 12 gallons.
Disposable load, apart from fuel 400 lbs.
Armament.
Weight of Instruments 12 lbs.
Total weight of machine fully loaded 1350 lbs.
Performance.
Speed (at ground level) 90 m.p.h.
Landing speed 40 m.p.h.
Climb to 10,000 feet 12 mins.
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Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919 /Jane's/
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| The B.A.T. "Baboon" Two-seater Training Machine (170 h.p. A.B.C. "Wasp")
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H.Cowin - Aviation Pioneers /Osprey/
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| Although not pursued beyond the prototype phase, the 1918 BAT FK 24 Baboon two seat trainer, built to an Air Board requirement, is of interest in terms of its choice of engine, along with aspects of its structure. Its power came from the specified 170hp ABC Wasp I radial, an indication, albeit later shown to be ill-judged, of the faith officialdom placed in the ABC radials. The Baboon's structure was not just robust, it was deliberately designed to use as many interchangeable components as possible, including the ability to switch upper with lower wings, plus being able to swap port and starboard elevators with the rudder. The machine's extra wide wheel track is also notable. Top level speed of the Baboon was 90mph at sea level, while climb to 10.000 feet could be achieved in 12 minutes. Seen here is serial no D 9731, the first of six ordered and the only one believed to have been completed.
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J.Bruce - British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 /Putnam/
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| B.A.T. Baboon.
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Журнал - Flight за 1919 г.
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| STARTERS IN HENDON'S AIR RACE ON SATURDAY: Left to right - B.A.T., piloted by Major Draper (winner; Avro, pilot Capt. D. H. Robertson, A.F.C.; Avro, pilot Major R. H. Carr, A.F.C., D.C.M. (second); G.-W. Bantam, pilot Capt. P. R. T. Chamberlayne (third); and Avro, pilot Lieut. G. R. Hicks, D.F.C.
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