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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0747.PDF
FLIGHT, OCTOBER 12, 1933 THE BLACKBURN " PERTH »i 3 Rolls-Royce " Buzzard II " MS Engines FOG interfered with the official launch at Brough, on October 9, of the new Blackburn " Perth " flying boat which has just been completed by the Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Co., Ltd., to the order of the British Air Minis try. A party of guests invited by the Blackburn and Rolls-Royce companies travelled to Hull on Sunday last in order to be at Brough in time for the launch on Monday morning at high tide, but a sea fog made the actual launch impossible, and when that cleared a gale warning was issued, so that it was not deemed advis able to send the machine for its first flight, and the visitors had to be content with witnessing the christening of the machine by Lady Atkinson, and a demonstration of the automatic quick-firing gun which has been installed in the bows of the hull. The Blackburn " Perth " is the last of a long family of " Iris " flying boats, the first of which was produced as long ago as 1926. Mr. Robert Blackburn is one of the pioneers of British aircraft constructors, and almost from the beginning lie has been closely associated with seagoing and marine aircraft. Torpedo planes have formed the mainstay of the Jilackburn business for very many years, and when it was decided to add flying boats to the aircraft types produced, the services of Mr. J. D. Rennie were secured. From the design of the first " Iris " to the present " Perth," Mr. Rennie has, under Maj. Bumpus, the chief engineer, been in charge of flying-boat de sign, a task which he has fulfilled with conspicuous success. In its general lines the latest machine follows the well- tested and proved features of the " Iris " family, the superstructure being of biplane arrangement and the hull characterised by a pronounced vee bottom which is par ticularly sharp towards the bows. This sharp vee serves to lessen the shocks of alighting and taxying in a seaway, and the Blackburn flying boats are noteworthy for their 2,760 B.H.P. The Rolls-Royce " Buzzard " II MS. engines of the Blackburn " Perth." (FLIGHT Photo.) seaworthiness as well as for their sturdy construction. The " Perth " belongs to the class of flying boat de signed for reconnaissance and coastal patrol, which means that it is capable of operation either in co-operation with the Fleet or independently. Its long range (1,500 miles maximum) enables it to cover a large area of coast line on patrol against hostile surface or submarine craft, or to operate over long distances when used for reconnaissance THE BLACKBURN PERTH " : Note the flare of the vee bottom towards the bows. 1017 (FLIGHT Photo.)
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