1 engine

Blanton Wichawk

TerryLeave a comment

Designed by Dave Blanton, the Wichawk is structurally similar to the Boeing Stearman biplane and is stressed for up to 12g’s positive and six g’s negative. Standard seating is for two in a side-by-side or tandem configuration, which is rather unusual for a sport biplane of its type. Optional tandem or three-place seating is also available. Designed to take the Continental O-470-11 engine of 225 hp, the 180-hp Lycoming is most often used, and can be adapted to house various horizontally opposed or radial engines. The wings make use of wooden spars with light alloy ribs, while the fuselage is constructed from welded steel tubes.

Gallery

Engine: Lycoming O-360, 180 hp.
HP range: 160-300.
Length: 19 ft.
Wing span: 24 ft.
Wing area: 180 sq.ft.
Weight empty: 1281 lbs.
Gross: 2400 lbs.
Fuel cap: 40 USG.
Speed max: 140 mph.
Cruise: 127 mph.
Range: 500 sm.
Stall: 56 mph.
ROC: 1700 fpm.
Take-off dist: 150 ft.
Landing dist: 400 ft.
Service ceiling: 18,000 ft.
Seats: 2/3.
Landing gear: tail wheel.

Blaney 1911 monoplane

TerryLeave a comment

The Jethro. D. Blaney monoplane was a design with a high, frail-looking, cantilever wing attached to a pylon above the box-like undercarriage and engine. The Kirkham engine drove a chain-driven prop that was mounted midway between the undercarriage and engine, which gave it a low center of gravity. It was designed by Blaney with the mechanical engineering done by Chance Vought, who thought it was “two years behind the times.” It was tested at Cicero Flying Field in July 1911, but never left the ground. After it was given a few more failed trial runs, like a number of other unsuccessful experimental aeroplanes at Cicero Field, the Blaney Monoplane remained there and was later abandoned.

Bland Mayfly

TerryLeave a comment

In the summer of 1910 A. V. Roe and Company declared its willingness to build aeroplanes to other people’s designs. Bolts, fittings and bracing wires were supplied to Miss Lilian Bland who built and flew the Mayfly biplane of her own design at Carnamony, Belfast. The first “Mayfly” of Lilian Bland was tested as a glider, probably during February 1910. It was built after the 1909 Blackpool meet and was an amalgam of the Farman and Wright types seen there. Its span was 8.40 m and constructed in less than three months.

Likely the first woman to build as well as fly her own aeroplane, Bland and S.Givvvany developed it empirically, testing and modifying it as a kite and glider before putting a 20 hp engine in it. This aircraft was fitted with one of the few examples of the 20 h.p. two cylinder, horizontally opposed, air cooled Avro engines. It was never given an Avro designation.

Lilian Bland couldn’t sell her constantly modified “Mayfly” and gave it to the Aero Club of Dublin before marrying and leaving for Canada.

Span: 27’7″
Length: 23′

Blanc and Barlatier 1907 monoplane

TerryLeave a comment

In 1906, Blanc and Barlatier conceived, without success, the first single-seater monoplane with wings inspired by the bat. The kite was pulled by two propellers driven by a central engine of 14 hp Buchet.

Designed and built by Barlatier and Blanc in 1907-8, only one was built, tested at the camp Le Rouet near Marseille, France.

Engine: 1 REP, 30 hp
Span: 46′ / 14.00 m
Length: 31’2″ / 9.50 m
Wing area: 45.00 sq.m
Weight: 530 lb / 240 kg

Blanch Biplane / Experimental

TerryLeave a comment

The Blanch Biplane, also known as the Blanch Experimental, was designed and constructed by Mr William James Blanch in the 1920s near Armadale, WA., Australia. Mr Blanch was an engineer who migrated to Australia following the conclusion of World War I. His aim was to design and construct a light biplane demonstrating the feasibility of producing an aircraft with a low powered engine which could be constructed cheaply and sold to future aviators. He was interested in aviation and began construction of a single-seat light biplane for which Certificate of Registration 106 and registration G-AUES (c/n 1) were allotted but not taken up. It was of wooden construction with fabric covering and was to be powered by a 19.3 kw (26 hp) Morehouse engine produced by the E B Heath Company of Chicago, USA, this company also building the popular, at the time, Heath Parasol monoplane.

The Australian Civil Aviation Branch (CAB) was approached by Mr Blanch in 1922 to inform them that material for construction had been ordered and he was founding a business to build and develop the aircraft, being backed for the for the construction of the prototype by Messrs Gordon and Clark who operated as Gordon Motor & Cycle Co of Perth, WA. Construction took place in the rear of a soft-drink shop in Third Avenue, Armadale. The CAB was supplied with technical data, calculations and drawings. In July 1922 Captain Frank Barnwell (1880-1938), Chief designer of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, made a structural analysis of the design. Estimated performance included a speed of 97 km/h (60 mph).

CAB inspections were made in January 1923 of the aircraft and the work was said to be highly creditable but detail workmanship was not up to the standard required for a Certificate of Airworthiness. Further CAB inspections in May and September 1923 required major changes to the construction, including the re-design of the wing with the original solid spars replaced by built-up units. At the latter inspections the fuselage, tailplane and elevators were covered and the fuel tank, instruments, controls and engine were installed but work on the wings had not advanced far.

The wings were completed by June 1924 and the CAB inspector stated the workmanship was in advance of anything done up to that time. By January 1925 the uncovered wings were attached to the fuselage and all controls connected. The aircraft was moved to Cullen’s Field off Railway Avenue where taxiing trials were commenced but it was found the engine would not exceed 1,150 rpm and thus not supply sufficient power.

Mr Blanch then applied to the CAB for £3,000 ($6,000) to set up a facility to build the design but this was not forthcoming. He was offered a 21.6 kw (29 hp) Morehouse engine built in the United States by Wright. In the event this engine was not imported and consideration was given to a chain driven converted Henderson motor-cycle engine. Certificate of Registration No 106 was then allotted. Further modifications to the aircraft were made, including installation of a new carburettor and strengthening of the undercarriage.

Soon after, financial support for the aircraft was withdrawn by the backers and the aircraft was left under a tree on Sherwood Estate. The wings were removed and placed in the loft of a barn but the fuselage suffered some damage from vermin and had to be moved to a shed at Maddington. It seems the aircraft was complete and ready for flight but was never flown.

The Civil Aviation Branch suggested an ABC Scorpion engine be procured to be installed at its cost, which could later be used in the Branch’s de Havilland DH.53s but this did not occur. The aircraft was still in existence during World War II but its final fate is not known. Mr Blanch died in about 1929.

Engine: One 19.3 kw (26 hp) Morehouse two-cylinder horizontally-opposed
Wingspan: 7.92 m (26 ft)
Length: 6.4 m (21 ft)
Max speed: 97 km/h (60 mph)
Initial rate of climb: 61 m/min (200 ft/min)
Loaded weight: 295 kg (650 lb)

Blake Bluetit

TerryLeave a comment

W.H.C. Blake and his brother built the little Bluetit monoplane from Simmonds Spartan Two Seater G-AAGN c/n 14, Simmonds Spartan Three Seater G-AAJB c/n 19 and some Avo 504 parts.

It was built at Winchester, UK, in the mid-1930s, powered by a 32 hp Gnat engine. It is not known if it ever flew.

It survived the war and later became part of the Shuttleworth Collection. Allocated BAPC.37 it was stored at Old Warden.

Blackshape Prime

TerryLeave a comment

The Blackshape Prime started as the Millennium Master, but the design was later acquired and further developed by Blackshape. The aircraft was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight rules. It features a cantilever low-wing, a two-seats-in-tandem enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, retractable tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.

The aircraft is made from pre-preg carbon fibre. Its 7.94 m (26.0 ft) span wing has an area of 9.96 sq.m (107.2 sq ft) and double slotted flaps. The standard engine available is the 100 hp (75 kW) Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplant, driving a two bladed constant speed propeller, which gives it a maximum level speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) and a cruise speed of 275 km/h (171 mph). The 115 hp (86 kW) Rotax 914 was also available as an option.

The aircraft first flew in 2007 and was introduced at the Aero show held in Friedrichshafen in 2009. It is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft by Blackshape srl, the company founded in Monopoli by Luciano Belviso and Angelo Petrosillo.

Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912ULS, 75 kW (101 hp)
Propeller: 2-bladed MT-Propeller MTV-33-1-A constant speed
Wingspan: 7.94 m (26 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 9.51 m2 (102.4 sq ft)
Length: 7.18 m (23 ft 7 in)
Height: 2.41 m (7 ft 11 in)
Empty weight: 296.5 kg (654 lb)
Gross weight: 472.5 kg (1,042 lb)
Fuel capacity: 66 litres (15 imp gal; 17 US gal)
Maximum speed: 300 km/h (190 mph, 160 kn)
Cruise speed: 275 km/h (171 mph, 148 kn)
Stall speed: 65 km/h (40 mph, 35 kn) flaps down
Never exceed speed: 305 km/h (190 mph, 165 kn)
Wing loading: 49.68 kg/m2 (10.18 lb/sq ft)
Crew: one
Capacity: one passenger

Engine: Rotax 115 HP 914 ULS3
Prop: 2-Blade, Variable Pitch, HYD, MTV-33-1-A/175-200

Blackshape Gabriel           

TerryLeave a comment

The Blackshape Gabriel trainer aircraft was developed by Italian aircraft maker Blackshape to serve both military and civil pilot training.

The Bk160 Gabriel aircraft base model was launched at the AERO Friedrichshafen trade show held in April 2017, while its upgraded version, designated Gabriel Turboprop (Gabriel-TP), was launched at the Singapore Airshow 2020.

The Gabriel trainer aircraft received design organisation approval and the type certificate in CS-VLA (Very Light Aeroplanes) category from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Powered by a turboprop engine, the upgraded trainer variant is intended primarily for military pilot training.

Blackshape plans to cooperate with aircraft manufacturers in South East Asian countries including Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines, and Malaysia to provide either knock-down kits or full technology transfer for local production of the Gabriel trainer.

Blackshape Bk100-Prime ultralight aircraft serves as the basis for the Gabriel trainer aircraft as well as for ISR and optionally-piloted aircraft versions. A total of 58 Blackshape Prime aircraft were operational in 18 countries, while its special configurations were in service with military operators.

The Gabriel trainer aircraft features aerodynamic fixed-wing design with its design optimised to reduce maintenance and direct operating costs.

Carbon fibre is used in the construction of the aircraft and the fuselage is equipped with low-wing configuration with a wing area of 10.31m² and a wing span of 9m.

The overall height of the trainer is 2.45m, while the overall length is 7.45m. The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 850kg, a useful load of 220kg with the capacity to carry 33kg of baggage on-board.

The aircraft is outfitted with an electrical systems with military-grade wiring, temperatures and fuel capacity sensors, anti-blast fuel tanks, and five-point certified safety seat belts. It is also fitted with a ballistic parachute.

The on-board differential braking system is used to steer the aircraft, while the landing gear is electrically actuated.

Gabriel trainer aircraft is equipped with glass cockpit with dual flight controls. It accommodates two pilots in tandem configuration.

The Gabriel can be armed with external payloads, allowing for the training of pilots on light-strike or counter-insurgency (COIN) operations.

The Blackshape Gabriel trainer aircraft is powered by a Lycoming IO-320-D1B engine of 160hp power at 2,700rpm. The engine has a compression ratio of 8.50:1 and drives Hartzell Raptor Series composite propellers in tractor configuration.

The power-plant offers a maximum speed of 164k at sea level and can reach altitudes of 15,000ft. The maximum rate of climb is 1,550fpm, while the maximum endurance is 192 minutes. The trainer requires a take-off distance of 250m and the landing ground roll of 190m.

The load factor of the aircraft is +4.4/-2g. Equipped with Roll Royce turboprop engine, the Gabriel-TP variant can attain a true airspeed of 200k at sea level.