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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0148.PDF
148FLIGHT 4 February 1955 Working conditions of the order normally associated with flying-boats will be enjoyed by the R.A.F.'s Beverley crews, (light-deck impression shows the stations for the co-pilot, navigator and (left foreground) radio operator. This BEVERLEY BUILD-UP . . . increased on each flight. The second prototype flew 135 hr 55 min .before modification to Beverley standards (a new centre section was fitted, increasing the space between inboard engines andfuselage and allowing airscrew diameter to be increased from 14ft to 16ft); since then it has flown a further 93 hr 45 min. It iselaborately equipped with over two tons of test gear, including seats for five observers in the tail boom. The natural questions which now arise are "When willBeverleys begin to reach the R.A.F., and in what role will they be used?" An official reply takes the form of this statement, issuedto Flight last week by the Air Ministry: "The first Transport Command squadron of the RAF. to flythe Blackburn Beverley will begin forming towards the end of this year. In operational use the Beverley will be the basic tool of themodern theatre transport support force, but it will not be required to transfer between theatres except for occasional strategic rein-forcements and aircrew training. "The tasks performed by this aircraft will include the movingby air of complete units of any service, with equipment: the support of ground forces in the field: casualty evacuation: supplydropping and parachute exercises of up to battalion strength. "When the squadron is functioning it will carry out a trainingprogramme incorporating all these operations. "As has always been the case with R.A.F. Transport Commandaircraft the Beverley force will be available for carrying men and supplies of the three armed services and will also be at thedisposal of other Government departments. "The Beverley will be able to carry 94 troops and equipment or70 parachute troops, 82 casualties or 45,000 lb over a distance of 200 nautical miles." The Beverley is powered by four 2,850 h.p. Bristol Centaurus173s, giving a maximum speed of 238 m.p.h. Leading particulars are as follows:—span, 162ft; length, 99ft; all-up weight,135,000 lb; max. payload, 50,000 lb; take-off run at full load, 790 yd; landing run at full load, 310 yd.Details of the size of the R.A.F. order, or the rate at which it will be met, may not at present be published. It can be said, how-ever, that the existing Beverley production line at Brough is capable of turning out four aircraft monthly. Blackburns shouldthus be able to promise good delivery dates on orders placed for civil Universal Freighters when the military version has shownits mettle in service with the R.A.F. This re-styled main under- carriage is a distinguishing feature of the production Beverley.
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