The Blackburn T.4 Cubaroo was a prototype Britishbiplanetorpedo bomber of the 1920s. Built by Blackburn Aircraft and intended to carry a large 21 in (533 mm) torpedo, the Cubaroo was one of the largest single-engined aircraft in the world at the time of its first flight.
In 1921, the British Air Ministry issued Specification 8/21 to Blackburn for a Coastal Defence Torpedo Aeroplane, the resulting design being the T.4 Cubaroo. Due to the change of policy in the Air Ministry to favour a twin-engined design a new specification was issued in 1922, the British Air Ministry drew up Specification 16/22, for a long-range torpedo bomber capable of carrying a 21 in (533 mm) torpedo (which was at the time thought capable of sinking the largest warship) over a range of 800 mi (1,300 km).[1] Major F. A Bumpus, chief designer of Blackburn Aircraft submitted the design for the Blackburn T.4 Cubaroo, which was a large biplane powered by a single example of the new 1,000 hp (750 kW) Napier Cubengine. Avro also submitted a design against this specification, the Avro 557 Ava, which was a similarly large biplane, powered by two 600 hp (450 kW) Rolls-Royce Condor engines.
To carry the heavy (over 2,000 lb/907 kg) torpedo over a long range, the Cubaroo was massive. With a wingspan of 88 ft (27 m), it may have been the largest single-engine military aircraft in the world at the time and was fitted with the most powerful aircraft engine available, the Napier Cub, which was an unusual X-type engine which weighed over a ton excluding radiators.[1][2] The Cubaroo, with a mainly metal structure, had a deep fuselage to accommodate the Cub engine and was fitted with folding, two-bay wings. To carry the torpedo, the Cubaroo was fitted with a main undercarriage comprising two sets of two wheels, with the torpedo being carried on a crutch between them.
Operational historyedit
The first prototype (with serial N166) flew in secrecy in the summer of 1924, proving to have good handling characteristics, with the engine not causing problems (the Cub had already been test flown in an Avro Aldershot testbed).[1] It was then fitted with a metal, three-blade adjustable-pitch propeller and was delivered for testing at RAF Martlesham Heath but was written off after its undercarriage collapsed on 2 February 1925. A second prototype flew in 1925, but the Air Ministry abandoned the requirement for a torpedo bomber to carry the 21 in (533 mm) torpedo and lost interest in single-engine heavy bombers, so the second prototype Cubaroo was used as an engine testbed, flying with the experimental 1,100 hp (820 kW) Beardmore Simoon compression ignition engine.[1]
^ abcdeMason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN0-85177-861-5.
^Lewis, Peter (1980). The British Bomber since 1914 (3rd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN0-370-30265-6.
^"Blackburn Aircraft: A Tribute to a great Yorkshire family". Flight International. Vol. 78, no. 2633. 1 May 1959. pp. 602–613.
Further readingedit
"THE BLACKBURN-NAPIER "CUBAROO" A Long-Distance Torpedo-'Plane with 1,000 H.P, Napier "Cub" Engine". Flight. Vol. XVI, no. 818. 28 August 1924. pp. 537–539.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blackburn Cubaroo.
. British Aircraft Directory. 7 August 2004. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
December 20, 2023
blackburn, cubaroo, blackburn, cubaroo, prototype, british, biplane, torpedo, bomber, 1920s, built, blackburn, aircraft, intended, carry, large, torpedo, cubaroo, largest, single, engined, aircraft, world, time, first, flight, cubaroorole, torpedo, bombermanuf. The Blackburn T 4 Cubaroo was a prototype British biplane torpedo bomber of the 1920s Built by Blackburn Aircraft and intended to carry a large 21 in 533 mm torpedo the Cubaroo was one of the largest single engined aircraft in the world at the time of its first flight T 4 CubarooRole Torpedo BomberManufacturer Blackburn AircraftDesigner F A BumpusFirst flight 1924Status PrototypePrimary user Royal Air ForceNumber built 2 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications Cubaroo 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksDesign and development editIn 1921 the British Air Ministry issued Specification 8 21 to Blackburn for a Coastal Defence Torpedo Aeroplane the resulting design being the T 4 Cubaroo Due to the change of policy in the Air Ministry to favour a twin engined design a new specification was issued in 1922 the British Air Ministry drew up Specification 16 22 for a long range torpedo bomber capable of carrying a 21 in 533 mm torpedo which was at the time thought capable of sinking the largest warship over a range of 800 mi 1 300 km 1 Major F A Bumpus chief designer of Blackburn Aircraft submitted the design for the Blackburn T 4 Cubaroo which was a large biplane powered by a single example of the new 1 000 hp 750 kW Napier Cub engine Avro also submitted a design against this specification the Avro 557 Ava which was a similarly large biplane powered by two 600 hp 450 kW Rolls Royce Condor engines To carry the heavy over 2 000 lb 907 kg torpedo over a long range the Cubaroo was massive With a wingspan of 88 ft 27 m it may have been the largest single engine military aircraft in the world at the time and was fitted with the most powerful aircraft engine available the Napier Cub which was an unusual X type engine which weighed over a ton excluding radiators 1 2 The Cubaroo with a mainly metal structure had a deep fuselage to accommodate the Cub engine and was fitted with folding two bay wings To carry the torpedo the Cubaroo was fitted with a main undercarriage comprising two sets of two wheels with the torpedo being carried on a crutch between them Operational history editThe first prototype with serial N166 flew in secrecy in the summer of 1924 proving to have good handling characteristics with the engine not causing problems the Cub had already been test flown in an Avro Aldershot testbed 1 It was then fitted with a metal three blade adjustable pitch propeller and was delivered for testing at RAF Martlesham Heath but was written off after its undercarriage collapsed on 2 February 1925 A second prototype flew in 1925 but the Air Ministry abandoned the requirement for a torpedo bomber to carry the 21 in 533 mm torpedo and lost interest in single engine heavy bombers so the second prototype Cubaroo was used as an engine testbed flying with the experimental 1 100 hp 820 kW Beardmore Simoon compression ignition engine 1 Operators edit nbsp United Kingdom Royal Air Force operated aircraft for evaluation and as a testbed only Specifications Cubaroo editData from The British Bomber since 1914 1 General characteristicsCrew 4 pilot navigator bomb aimer gunner and midships gunner Length 54 ft 0 in 16 46 m Wingspan 88 ft 0 in 26 82 m Height 19 ft 4 in 5 89 m Empty weight 9 632 lb 4 369 kg Max takeoff weight 19 020 lb 8 627 kg Powerplant 1 Napier Cub X 16 water cooled piston engine 1 000 hp 750 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 115 mph 185 km h 100 kn Range 1 800 mi 2 900 km 1 600 nmi Endurance 10 hours 3 Service ceiling 11 800 ft 3 600 m Armament 3 303 in 7 7 mm Lewis Guns in midship gunners cockpit and at beam hatches 1 21 in 533 mm naval torpedoor 4 551 lb 250 kg bombsSee also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Avro 557 AvaReferences edit a b c d e Mason Francis K 1994 The British Bomber since 1914 London Putnam Aeronautical Books ISBN 0 85177 861 5 Lewis Peter 1980 The British Bomber since 1914 3rd ed London Putnam ISBN 0 370 30265 6 Blackburn Aircraft A Tribute to a great Yorkshire family Flight International Vol 78 no 2633 1 May 1959 pp 602 613 Further reading edit THE BLACKBURN NAPIER CUBAROO A Long Distance Torpedo Plane with 1 000 H P Napier Cub Engine Flight Vol XVI no 818 28 August 1924 pp 537 539 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blackburn Cubaroo Blackburn Cubaroo British Aircraft Directory 7 August 2004 Archived from the original on 30 September 2007 Retrieved 21 June 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blackburn Cubaroo amp oldid 1018230068, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
