Blackburn Dart

infobox Aircraft
name =T.2 Dart
type =Torpedo bomber
manufacturer =Blackburn Aircraft



caption =Blackburn Dart T.2, "N9541", 461 Flight, HMS Furious, c. 1930
designer =
first flight =October 1921
introduced =1922
retired =1933
status =
primary user =Fleet Air Arm
more users =Royal Air Force
produced =1922-1928
number built =118 (plus eight Swift export models)
unit cost =
variants with their own articles = Blackburn Velos

The Blackburn Dart was a British carrier-based torpedo-bomber biplane, manufactured by Blackburn Aircraft, which first flew in 1921. The Dart was the standard single-seat torpedo bomber used by the Fleet Air Arm from 1923 until 1933. A modified variant was also sold to Greece, where they served with the Greek Navy.

Design and development

The Blackburn Dart was developed from the Blackburn Swift torpedo bomber of 1920. Although mainly conventional, the large biplane featured two bay, equal span wings that were staggered and swept. The wing centre section structure was steel with wooden outer section, all fabric covered. Ailerons were mounted on all four wings. The fuselage was mounted on the lower wing, and also consisted of a metal structure with fabric covering. The tail unit had a braced tailplane and fin with balanced rudder. The divided landing gear had main wheels on oleo legs that allowed the fitting of a standard torpedo below the fuselage.

The Dart was powered by either a Napier Lion IIB or V engine that was mounted with a thrustline angled upward; the fuselage also dropped sharply downwards from the cockpit creating an effective if ungainly profile. Due to the twisted nose contours, the Dart acquired the unfortunate accolade of being one of the "ugliest" aircraft built.Fact|date=May 2008

The prototype Dart was first flown in October 1921 and despite its size, handled well and exhibited a remarkable 43 mph stalling speed.

An export model of the Dart retained the name Swift and used the 450hp (336kW) Napier Lion engine. Seven were built as the Swift Mk II, two for the Japanese Navy, three for the Spanish Navy, and two for the United States Navy. The US Navy aircraft were designated Swift F and following competitive trials in 1921, the US Navy decided not to proceed with an order and purchased the Douglas DT-2 instead.

Operational Service

The Dart T.2 entered service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1923 with No 460 Flight aboard HMS "Eagle" stationed in the Mediterranean and with 461 and 462 Flights on HMS "Furious" based in home waters. Shore training was conducted by "D3" Flight at Gosport. In 1928, the Blackburn Dart flew with Nos. 463 and 464 Flights embarked on HMS "Courageous" in the Mediterranean fleet. The following year, a single Dart was delivered to No. 36 Squadron RAF (Coastal Defence Torpedo Flight), initially for smoke-screen trials and later to form part of the complement of torpedo bombers in the first fully operational Royal Air Force torpedo bomber squadron.

Three Darts were converted into two-seat seaplanes to provide advanced training from 1925-1929, at Blackburn's RAF Reserve School on the River Humber. The conversions led to a new variant, the T.3 Velos which was ordered as a torpedo bomber by the Greek Navy in 1925.

The Dart continued in service with the Blackburn Reserve School, alongside a number of T.3s converted to landplanes until their eventual replacement by Ripons and Baffins in 1933.

One notable event marked the career of the Blackburn Dart. Air Commodore G.H. Boyce became the first pilot to carry out a night deck landing when he landed his Blackburn Dart aboard HMS "Furious" on 6 May 1926. The flight deck was illuminated by flood lights for the attempt but the docile Dart easily handled the task.

Variants

;T.1 Swift:Prototype torpedo bomber, one built.;Dart:Prototype; one built.;T.2 Dart:Initial production variant - 117 built (three converted to two-seat trainers).;Swift Mk II:Export version - seven built.;Swift F:US Navy designation of the Swift Mk II for evaluation (would have been designated the BST-1 if ordered).;T.3 Velos:Two-seat variant for the Greek Navy - 16 built (12 under licence in Greece).;T.3A Velos:Company demonstrator and trial aircraft - six built.

Operators

;JPN
*Japanese Navy (as Swift Mk II);ESP
*Spanish Navy (as Swift Mk II);UK
*North Sea Aerial & General Transport Company (as T.3A Velos)
*Royal Air Force (Fleet Air Arm);USA
*United States Navy (as Swift F)

pecifications (Dart T.2)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. [ Taylor 1980, p. 306.]
crew=1
capacity=
length main= 35 ft 4.5 in
length alt= 10.78 m
span main= 45 ft 5.75 in
span alt= 13.86 m
more span=
height main= 12 ft 11 in
height alt= 3.91m
area main=654 ft²
area alt= 199 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,599 lb
empty weight alt= 1,900 kg
loaded weight main= 6,383 lb
loaded weight alt= 3,000 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)= Napier Lion IIB
type of prop= 12 cylinder broad arrow piston engine
number of props=1
power main= 450 hp
power alt= 336 kW
power or the Lion V of 465 hp (347 kW)
max speed main= 107 mph
max speed alt= 170 km/h
max speed more=with dummy torpedo at 3,000 ft
cruise speed main= 100 mph
cruise speed alt= 161 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main= 43.5 mph
stall speed alt=70.5 km/h
range main= 356 nm
range alt= 410 mi, 660 km
ceiling main= 12,700 ft
ceiling alt= 4,000 m
climb rate main=600 ft/min
climb rate alt=3.0 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
guns=1 fixed, forward firing Vickers gun (not Mk II) and one Lewis gun in rear cockpit.
bombs=One Mark VIII or IX, 18 in torpedo or up to two 520 lb bombs under each wing.
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=*Blackburn Baffin

similar aircraft=

lists=

see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Sturtivant, Ray. "Fleet Air Arm Colours 1923-33." "Scale Aircraft Modelling", Vol. 4, No. 6, March 1982.
* Taylor, Michael, J.H., ed. "Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation". Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier Educational Corporation, 1980. ISBN 0-7106-0710-5.

External links

* [http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/royalair30.htm The Royal Air force in the 1930s]