British Aircraft Swallow

infobox Aircraft
name = Swallow
type = Light tourer
manufacturer = British Klemm/British Aircraft Manufacturing


caption =
designer =
first flight = 1933
introduced =
introduction=
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 135
unit cost =
developed from = Klemm L.25
variants with their own articles = The B.A Swallow was a British light aircraft of the 1930s. It was a license-built version by the British Klemm Aeroplane Company (which later became known as the British Aircraft Manufacturing Co.) of the German Klemm L.25. a total of 135 were built.

Design and development

The German aircraft manufacturer Klemm developed a successful low powered light aeroplane, the Klemm L.25, which first flew in 1927 Smith and Kay 1972] , of which over 600 were produced. Several were sold to British owners, where they proved popular, so the British dealer for the K.25, Major E.F Stephen, set up the "British Klemm Aeroplane Company" at Hanworth, Middlesex to produce a version of the L.25 under license.

The prototype of the licenced version, known as the B.K. Swallow, first flew in November 1933 Jackson 1974] . It was an all-wooden cantilever monoplane, with tandem cockpits accommodating two, and powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Salmson 9 or 85 hp (63 kW) Pobjoy Cataract radial engine. It differed from the German original by its more powerful engines and local strengthening to meet British airworthiness requirements.

In 1935 a revised version was introduced, with the curved wing tips, rudder and tailplane inherited from the Klemm original being made straight and with revised fuselage top decking. At this time the company changed its name to the British Aircraft Manufacturing Co., so the revised version was known as the B.A Swallow II. Swallow IIs were produced powered either by the Cataract or the Cirrus Minor inline engine, production continuing until 1938, with a total of 107 Swallow IIs produced, following on from 28 Swallow I.

Operational history

The Swallow, which proved robust and safe, was popular in service. The majority were sold to private owners or flying schools within the United Kingdom. On the outbreak of the Second World War, many were impressed by the Military, most being issued to the Air Training Corps for use as instructional airframes .

One Swallow was impressed into RNZAF service in September 1939, it was used as a communications aircraft from September 1939 to April 1940.

Some 17 Swallows survived to fly again after the war, with a few remaining in existence today.

Variants

;B.K. Swallow:Initial production version, powered by 75 hp Salmson A.D.9 or 85 hp Pobjoy Cataract II engines. A total of 28 built (six with Salmson engine).;B.A. Swallow II:Revised production version, with modified structure to ease production, powered by 90 hp Cataract II engine or 90 hp Cirrus Minor. A total of 107 were built (60 with Cataract, 47 with Cirrus).

Operators

;UK
*Royal Air Force;NZL
*Royal New Zealand Air Force

pecifications (B.K. Swallow)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=British Civil Aircraft since 1919
crew=Two
capacity=
length main= 26 ft 3 in
length alt= 8.00 m
span main= 42 ft 8½ in
span alt= 13.02 m
height main= 7 ft 0 in
height alt= 2.13 m
area main= 219½ ft²
area alt= 20.4 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 960 lb
empty weight alt= 436 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 1,500 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 682 kg
more general=
engine (prop)=Pobjoy Cataract II
type of prop=radial engine
number of props=1
power main= 85 hp
power alt= 63 kW
power original=
max speed main= 90 knots
max speed alt= 104mph, 167 km/h
cruise speed main= 78 knots
cruise speed alt= 90mph, 145 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 365 nm
range alt= 420 mi, 676 km
ceiling main= 17,000 ft
ceiling alt= 5,200 m
climb rate main= 800 ft/min
climb rate alt= 4.1 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=*Klemm L.25
similar aircraft=
sequence=Swallow - British Aircraft Eagle
lists=
see also=

References

*Jackson, A.J. "British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1". London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
* Smith, J.R. and Kay, Antony L. "German Aircraft of the Second World War". London: Putnam, 1972. ISBN 0-85177-836-4.

External links

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=731 British Aircraft Directory]