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 GermanKlemm L.25. A total of 135 were built.
Swallow
1937-built BA Swallow 2 G-AFCL with Pobjoy engine, in May 2003
The Germanaircraft manufacturerKlemm developed a successful low-powered light aeroplane, the Klemm L.25, which first flew in 1927,[1] of which over 600 were produced. Several were sold to British owners, where they proved popular, so the British dealer for the L.25, Major E.F Stephen, set up the "British Klemm Aeroplane Company" at London Air Park, Hanworth, Middlesex to produce a version of the L.25 under license.
BA Swallow with Cirrus Minor engine at Wroughton airfield, Wiltshire in July 19921937-built BA Swallow II in 2007
The prototype of the licensed version, known as the B.K. Swallow, first flew at Hanworth in November 1933.[2] It was an all-wooden cantilevermonoplane, with tandem cockpits accommodating two persons, and was powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Salmson 9 or 85 hp (63 kW) Pobjoy Cataractradial engine. It differed from the German original with its more powerful engines and local strengthening to meet British airworthiness requirements.[2]
In 1935 a revised version of the Swallow 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 Minorinline engine, production continuing until 1938, with a total of 107 Swallow IIs produced, following on from the 28 Swallows I.[2]
Operational historyedit
Pobjoy Swallow G-AFGD with wings folded, at Shobdon Aerodrome Herefordshire in 1987. This aircraft served as a glider at RAF Ringway in 1940
The Swallow, which proved to be robust, was popular in service. The majority were sold to private owners or flying schools within the United Kingdom. At the outbreak of the Second World War, many were taken by the Military, most being issued to the Air Training Corps for use as instructional airframes.[2]
A number of Swallows were taken on charge during late 1940 by the Royal Air Force's Glider Training Squadron within the Central Landing Establishment based at RAF Ringway near Manchester. Their propellers were removed and tow hooks were attached to each wing leading edge. The Swallows were towed singly, in pairs and in threes by retired Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers before being released to glide to their simulated "target" on the airfield. This unusual procedure was adopted to assist the evaluation of the future use of heavy gliders in assaults on enemy positions.[3]
One Swallow was impressed into RNZAF service in September 1939 and was used as a communications aircraft from September 1939 to April 1940.
Some 17 Swallows survived to fly again under private ownership after the war, with a few remaining airworthy in 2008.
Revised production version, with modified structure to simplify production, powered by 90 hp (67 kW) Pobjoy Cataract II engine or 90 hp (67 kW) Blackburn Cirrus Minor, 107 built (60 with Cataract, 47 with Cirrus).
^Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN0-370-10006-9.
Scholefield, R.A. Manchester Airport. Stroud: Sutton Publishing Ltd, 1998. ISBN0-7509-1954-X.
Smith, J.R. and Kay, Antony L. German Aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam, 1972. ISBN0-85177-836-4.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Aircraft Swallow.
– British Aircraft Directory
December 15, 2023
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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 Swallow1937 built BA Swallow 2 G AFCL with Pobjoy engine in May 2003Role Light tourerManufacturer British Klemm British Aircraft ManufacturingFirst flight 1933Number built 135Developed from Klemm L 25 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications B K Swallow II 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDesign and development editThe German aircraft manufacturer Klemm developed a successful low powered light aeroplane the Klemm L 25 which first flew in 1927 1 of which over 600 were produced Several were sold to British owners where they proved popular so the British dealer for the L 25 Major E F Stephen set up the British Klemm Aeroplane Company at London Air Park Hanworth Middlesex to produce a version of the L 25 under license nbsp BA Swallow with Cirrus Minor engine at Wroughton airfield Wiltshire in July 1992 nbsp 1937 built BA Swallow II in 2007The prototype of the licensed version known as the B K Swallow first flew at Hanworth in November 1933 2 It was an all wooden cantilever monoplane with tandem cockpits accommodating two persons and was powered by a 75 hp 56 kW Salmson 9 or 85 hp 63 kW Pobjoy Cataract radial engine It differed from the German original with its more powerful engines and local strengthening to meet British airworthiness requirements 2 In 1935 a revised version of the Swallow 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 the 28 Swallows I 2 Operational history edit nbsp Pobjoy Swallow G AFGD with wings folded at Shobdon Aerodrome Herefordshire in 1987 This aircraft served as a glider at RAF Ringway in 1940The Swallow which proved to be robust was popular in service The majority were sold to private owners or flying schools within the United Kingdom At the outbreak of the Second World War many were taken by the Military most being issued to the Air Training Corps for use as instructional airframes 2 A number of Swallows were taken on charge during late 1940 by the Royal Air Force s Glider Training Squadron within the Central Landing Establishment based at RAF Ringway near Manchester Their propellers were removed and tow hooks were attached to each wing leading edge The Swallows were towed singly in pairs and in threes by retired Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers before being released to glide to their simulated target on the airfield This unusual procedure was adopted to assist the evaluation of the future use of heavy gliders in assaults on enemy positions 3 One Swallow was impressed into RNZAF service in September 1939 and was used as a communications aircraft from September 1939 to April 1940 Some 17 Swallows survived to fly again under private ownership after the war with a few remaining airworthy in 2008 Variants editB K Swallow Initial production version powered by 70 hp 52 kW British Salmson A D 9R or 90 hp 67 kW Pobjoy Cataract II engines 28 built six with Salmson engine B A Swallow II Revised production version with modified structure to simplify production powered by 90 hp 67 kW Pobjoy Cataract II engine or 90 hp 67 kW Blackburn Cirrus Minor 107 built 60 with Cataract 47 with Cirrus Operators edit nbsp United KingdomRoyal Air Force Royal Navy one aircraft used in Ceylon for communications duties nbsp New ZealandRoyal New Zealand Air Force nbsp SpainSpanish Air Force One aircraft only Specifications B K Swallow II editData from British Civil Aircraft since 1919 2 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 26 ft 3 in 8 00 m Wingspan 42 ft 8 5 in 13 018 m Height 7 ft 0 in 2 13 m Wing area 219 5 sq ft 20 39 m2 Airfoil Modified Klemm 4 Empty weight 960 lb 435 kg Gross weight 1 500 lb 680 kg Powerplant 1 Pobjoy Cataract II 7 cylinder air cooled geared radial piston engine 85 hp 63 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 104 mph 167 km h 90 kn Cruise speed 90 mph 140 km h 78 kn Range 420 mi 680 km 360 nmi Service ceiling 17 000 ft 5 200 m Rate of climb 800 ft min 4 1 m s See also editRelated development Klemm L 25Related lists List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air ForceReferences edit Smith and Kay 1972 a b c d e Jackson 1974 Scholefield 1998 page 22 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Jackson A J British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1 London Putnam 1974 ISBN 0 370 10006 9 Scholefield R A Manchester Airport Stroud Sutton Publishing Ltd 1998 ISBN 0 7509 1954 X Smith J R and Kay Antony L German Aircraft of the Second World War London Putnam 1972 ISBN 0 85177 836 4 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Aircraft Swallow B A Swallow British Aircraft Directory Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title British Aircraft Swallow amp oldid 1084039214, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
