Like Koolhovens earlier F.K.23 Bantam, the Basilisk was a two-bay biplane with a wooden monocoque fuselage, but was larger and heavier to accommodate the larger engine and the equipment required by the Specification. Armament was two Vickers machine guns mounted ahead of the pilot, and enclosed in a large fairing that formed the upper coaming of the pilot's cockpit.[2][3]
Three prototypes were ordered in early 1918, and the first one flew in September 1918.[2] It was destroyed on 3 May 1919 when attempting to break the World altitude record, its engine catching fire and BAT's test pilot, Peter Legh, being killed after he jumped clear.[2][4][5] The second and third prototype were fitted with modified, horn balanced ailerons, with the second prototype tested at Martlesham Heath in October 1919. While its performance was good (although not as good as claimed by BAT), the Dragonfly engine was hopelessly unreliable, with further development or production abandoned earlier in the year, and the Basilisk was abandoned when Koolhoven left BAT at the end of 1919.[4]
Specifications (Second prototype)edit
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1919[6] War Planes of the First World War: Fighters Volume One [4]
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Capacity: 448 lb (203.21 kg) disposable load
Length: 20 ft 5 in (6.22 m)
Wingspan: 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m)
Height: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m)
Wing area: 212 sq ft (19.7 m2)
Empty weight: 1,350 lb (612 kg)
Gross weight: 2,085 lb (946 kg)
Fuel capacity: 40 imp gal (181.84 L; 48.04 US gal)
^Grey, C.G. (1969). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1919 (Facsimile ed.). David & Charles (Publishing) Limited. pp. 81a to 83a. ISBN978-0-7153-4647-1.
Referencesedit
Grey, C.G. (1969). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1919 (Facsimile ed.). David & Charles (Publishing) Limited. pp. 81a to 83a. ISBN978-0-7153-4647-1.
"The Late Peter Legh." Flight, 8 May 1919, No. 641 Vol. XI. p. 616.
"Some "B.A.T." Aeroplanes". Flight, 1 January 1920, pp. 18, 19.
Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.
Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Fighters Volume One. London:Macdonald, 1965.
Lewis, Peter. The British Fighter since 1912. London:Putnam, Fourth edition 1979. ISBN0-370-10049-2.
Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN1-55750-082-7.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BAT F.K.25 Basilisk.
BAT FK-25 Basilisk (in Russian)
December 18, 2023
basilisk, basilisk, prototype, british, fighter, aircraft, first, world, single, engined, biplane, intended, meet, requirement, replace, sopwith, snipe, basilisk, unsuccessful, only, three, being, built, basiliskrole, fighter, aircraftnational, origin, united,. The BAT F K 25 Basilisk was a prototype British fighter aircraft of the First World War A single engined biplane intended to meet a requirement to replace the Sopwith Snipe the Basilisk was unsuccessful only three being built F K 25 BasiliskRole Fighter aircraftNational origin United KingdomManufacturer British Aerial TransportDesigner Frederick KoolhovenFirst flight September 1918Status PrototypeNumber built 3 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Specifications Second prototype 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksDevelopment and design editIn 1918 the British Air Ministry issued the RAF Type 1 specification for a single seat fighter powered by the new and untried ABC Dragonfly air cooled radial engine to replace the Sopwith Snipe To meet this requirement Frederick Koolhoven formerly of Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft and before that Deperdussin chief designer of the British Aerial Transport Company of London designed the F K 25 Basilisk 1 Like Koolhovens earlier F K 23 Bantam the Basilisk was a two bay biplane with a wooden monocoque fuselage but was larger and heavier to accommodate the larger engine and the equipment required by the Specification Armament was two Vickers machine guns mounted ahead of the pilot and enclosed in a large fairing that formed the upper coaming of the pilot s cockpit 2 3 Three prototypes were ordered in early 1918 and the first one flew in September 1918 2 It was destroyed on 3 May 1919 when attempting to break the World altitude record its engine catching fire and BAT s test pilot Peter Legh being killed after he jumped clear 2 4 5 The second and third prototype were fitted with modified horn balanced ailerons with the second prototype tested at Martlesham Heath in October 1919 While its performance was good although not as good as claimed by BAT the Dragonfly engine was hopelessly unreliable with further development or production abandoned earlier in the year and the Basilisk was abandoned when Koolhoven left BAT at the end of 1919 4 Specifications Second prototype editData from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1919 6 War Planes of the First World War Fighters Volume One 4 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 448 lb 203 21 kg disposable load Length 20 ft 5 in 6 22 m Wingspan 25 ft 4 in 7 72 m Height 8 ft 2 in 2 49 m Wing area 212 sq ft 19 7 m2 Empty weight 1 350 lb 612 kg Gross weight 2 085 lb 946 kg Fuel capacity 40 imp gal 181 84 L 48 04 US gal Powerplant 1 ABC Dragonfly 9 cyl air cooled radial piston engine 320 hp 240 kW Propellers 2 bladed BAT tractor 8 ft 2 44 m pitch 8 ft 8 in 2 64 m diameterPerformance Maximum speed 162 mph 261 km h 141 kn at sea level154 mph 248 km h 134 kn at 10 000 ft 3 048 00 m 141 mph 227 km h 123 kn at 15 000 ft 4 572 00 m 132 mph 212 km h 115 kn at 20 000 ft 6 096 00 m Landingspeed 52 mph 84 km h 45 kn Service ceiling 22 500 ft 6 900 m Rate of climb 2 500 ft min 13 m s Time to altitude 5 000 ft 1 524 00 m in 2 minutes10 000 ft 3 048 00 m in 5 minutes 20 000 ft 6 096 00 m in 16 minutes 24 secondsWing loading 9 25 lb sq ft 45 2 kg m2 Power mass 0 173 hp lb 0 285 kW kg Armament Guns 2 forward firing synchronised 0 303 in 7 7 mm Vickers machine gunsSee also editRelated development BAT BantamAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Armstrong Whitworth Ara Nieuport Nighthawk Siddeley Siskin Sopwith Snapper Sopwith SnarkNotes edit Lewis 1979 pp 128 130 a b c Mason 1992 p 140 Bruce 1957 p 75 a b c Bruce 1965 p 64 Flight 8 May 1919 p 616 Grey C G 1969 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1919 Facsimile ed David amp Charles Publishing Limited pp 81a to 83a ISBN 978 0 7153 4647 1 References editGrey C G 1969 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1919 Facsimile ed David amp Charles Publishing Limited pp 81a to 83a ISBN 978 0 7153 4647 1 The Late Peter Legh Flight 8 May 1919 No 641 Vol XI p 616 Some B A T Aeroplanes Flight 1 January 1920 pp 18 19 Bruce J M British Aeroplanes 1914 18 London Putnam 1957 Bruce J M War Planes of the First World War Fighters Volume One London Macdonald 1965 Lewis Peter The British Fighter since 1912 London Putnam Fourth edition 1979 ISBN 0 370 10049 2 Mason Francis K The British Fighter since 1912 Annapolis USA Naval Institute Press 1992 ISBN 1 55750 082 7 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to BAT F K 25 Basilisk BAT FK 25 Basilisk in Russian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BAT Basilisk amp oldid 919863538, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
