British Aircraft Manufacturing Co built six B.K.1 Eagle 1 three-seat cabin monoplanes, similar to Klemm L.32 but redesigned by G. A. Handasyde.
Monoplane
British Aircraft Co Planette
A single-seat light aircraft, modified from a B.A.C. VII sailplane. The rear cockpit was deleted, and a 600cc Douglas engine was mounted on a pylon on top of the wings, driving a pusher prop.
The first Planette flew in Autumn of 1932 and the type was further developed, and put into production as the B.A.C. Drone.
British Aircraft Co Monoplane
It is recorded that in 1937 the British Aircraft Co. (1935) Ltd produced two prototype two-seat, single engine monoplanes.
British Aircraft Co Flying Trainer
It is recorded that in 1936 the British Aircraft Co. (1935) Ltd produced a prototype Flying Trainer single-engine, single seat, primary training monoplane.
British Aircraft Co B.A.C. IX
The last of Lowe-Wylde’s glider designs was the 1931 B.A.C. IX, a lightweight sailplane designed for possible home building. One only was built, first flown at Balsdean on 4 Oct 1931. The Kent Gliding Club were hoping to acquire it in 1933, but nothing more is known.
Of conventional wooden construction, the tailplanes and rudders were interchangeable and the cantilever wings had full-span ailerons. No airbrakes or flaps were fitted.
The undercarriage was a main skid and tail skids.
Wingspan: 10.69 m / 35 ft 0 in
Length: 5.64 m / 18 ft 6 in
Wing area: 13.94 m / 150 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 8.1
Empty weight: 95.26 kg / 210 lb
Wing loading: 12.0 kg/sq.m / 2.45 lb/sq.ft
British Aircraft Co B.A.C. VIII
The 1932 B.A.C. VIII was a two-seat flying boat glider using B.A.C. VII wings and tail. Nicknamed the “Bat-Boat” after similar craft described in a short story by Rudyard Kipling, it was tested in August 1931 by being towed behind a speed-boat on the River Medway at Rochester. On 7 December that year it was demonstrated from the Welsh Harp reservoir at Hendon.
British Aircraft Co BAC VII
On 12 April 1931 the first two-seat B.A.C. VII flew, still using the 40 ft 10in span wings of the B.A.C. IV and VI, but with a new fuselage and an aircraft-type twin-wheel undercarriage for aero- or auto-towing. No flaps or air brakes were fitted.
A B.A.C. VII glider was modified by C.H. Lowe-Wylde to a single seater with an engine fitted on top of the wing in 1932.
Ten B.A.C.VII were built, in 1931, followed by one B.A.C.VII Mk.2 prototype in 1932.
A B.A.C. VII sponsored by novelist Barbara Cartland was intended to compete for the Daily Mail cross-channel competition prize, but in trials, flown by Edward Mole and towed by DH.60 Moth G-AAPA of National Flying Services, the combination was unable to get above 6,000 ft, insufficient height for a crossing, so instead a towed flight was made from Maidstone to Reading on 20 June 1931.
The RAF Pageant held at Hendon on 25 June 1932 included a display by three B.A.C. VII gliders. At the British Gliding Association meeting at Huish/Pewsey Hill, G E Collins – the BGA instructor, made the first thermal-soaring flights in the UK, with a cross-country flight of 6 miles in a B.A.C. VII on 3 July 1933. Some B.A.C. VIIs were sold as kits, including one built in Palestine, and a replica was built by Michael Maufe in the 1980s, using the wings from a Drone.
Photographs of the prototype B.A.C. VII Mk.2 appeared in “Sailplane and Glider” in 1932 showing parts under construction. A two-seater it featured longer span wings, with slight dihedral, revised cantilever all-moving tailplane, and wheel brakes were fitted, No flaps but small spoilers were fitted to the leading edges of the wings.
It is not known if the B.A.C. VII Mk.2 was completed and flown.
The B.A.C.VII were developed into the Planette, Drone, Super Drone, and Drone de Luxe.
Variation: B.A.C. Planette
B.A.C. VII
Wingspan: 12.48 m / 40 ft 10 in
Length: 6.91 m / 22 ft 8 in
Wing area: 17.09 sq.m / 184 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 9
Wing section: Gottengen 532 modified
Seats: 2
Price 1932: £150
B.A.C. VII Mk.2
Wingspan: 13.08 m / 42 ft 11 in
Length: 6.91 m / 22 ft 8 in
Wing area: 19.02 sq.m / 194 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 9.5
Empty weight: 136.08 lb / 300 lb
Seats: 2
British Aircraft Co BAC 6
When the B.A.C. IV was fitted with wheels, it was known as the 1930 B.A.C. VI. One was built, and soared by Wolf Hirth at Balsdean on 1 April 1931 for 2hrs 13min. The Taunton & West Somerset Gliding Club was presented with a B.A.C. VI by their president, Lt. Col. Hamilton Gault, M.P., which was first demonstrated for the club by Mr Lowe-Wylde on 9 July 1931.
The 1931 BAC 6 single-seat glider was developed into the BAC 7 two-seater.
British Aircraft Co B.A.C. IV
An improved version of the B.A.C. III appearing in April 1931 was the B.A.C. IV with longer, tapered wings. Only one being built.
One was sold to Mr C M C Turner of the Channel Gliding Club. For an intended channel crossing. it was towed to 10,000 ft by Sqn Ldr Probyn in his Westland Widgeon G-EBRQ on 18 June 1931, but this was not high enough for the planned flight.
When fitted with wheels the B.A.C. IV was re-designated B.A.C. VI.
Wing span: 12.48 m / 40 ft 9 in
Length: 6.05 m / 19 ft 10 in
Wing area: 17.09 sq.m / 184 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 9
Wing section: Gottingen 532 modified
Empty weight: 90.72 kg / 200 lb
Max L/D: 18
British Aircraft Co B.A.C. III / B.A.C. V
The single-seat B.A.C. III consisted of the wings and tail from the B.A.C. II combined with a fuselage enclosing the pilot. The undercarriage was a main skid. No flaps or air brakes were fitted.
The wings were strut braced with two on each side.
First flying at Lenham on 12 October 1930, two went to the Glasgow and Accrington gliding clubs, while three further clubs had their B.A.C. II primaries delivered along with alternative B.A.C. III fuselages, so they could be flown in either configuration.
The 1930 B.A.C. V was simply a B.A.C. III equipped with a pair of wheels for auto-towing. One was built for the Border Gliding Club, while the Preston & District club converted their B.A.C. III for towing off the beach at Middleton Sands, Heysham. This aircraft crashed there fatally on 15 May 1932.
Wingspan: 10.28 m / 33 ft 9 in
Length: 6.05 m / 19 ft 10 in
Wing area: 15.7 sq.m / 169 sq.ft
Aspect ratio: 6.75
Wing section: Gottingen 532
Empty weight: 81.65 kg / 180 lb
Max L/D: 14
