In 1951 Peter Gatrell, John Britten & Desmond Norman built and flew an ultra-light monoplane, their first aircraft, which made its first flight at Bembridge, Isle of Wight, on 16 May 1951. This machine crashed on an early flight, when the petrol supply to the 40 hp Aeronca-J.A.P. J-99 twin cylinder air-cooled engine faded out.[2] Modifications were made to the tail unit by adding small ancillary fins to improve the directional stability, inset ailerons were fitted, the JAP engine was replaced by a 55 hp (41 kW) Lycoming O-145 horizontally-opposed twin and the undercarriage was replaced with braced arrangement with rubber bungee springing. It was first flown in this form in May 1951 and was withdrawn from use in 1953. It is now on exhibition in the Solent Sky Museum, Southampton, England, on loan from Michael Short of Austin Texas, USA.
The general arrangement of the BN-1 is similar to that of the Comper Swift in particular G-ABUS, an aircraft that Desmond Norman was associated with, along with fellow de Havilland Technical School apprentice, Tony Cole, that they jointly acquired in 1948 and restored to flying condition.[3] In part this was an attempt to restart the club flying scene that had been prevalent in pre-war England. The BN-1 can be seen as the first steps towards making cheap aviation available to all as the BN-2 Islander was later to achieve for developing countries.
John Britten and Desmond Norman went on to form Britten-Norman Ltd which became well known for the BN-2 Islander and Trislander series of aircraft and which is still in business at Bembridge, Isle of Wight.[4]
Cooper, H. J. (30 November 1951). "The Throttle Benders: No. 3: A. L. Cole". Flight. Vol. LX, no. 2236. pp. 697–699.
"International "Aerial Work": The far-ranging activities of Britten-Norman". Flight International. Vol. 83, no. 2824. 25 April 1963. pp. 608, 611.
Jackson, A.J. (1973). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN0-370-10006-9.
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December 18, 2023
britten, norman, british, single, seat, ultralight, aircraft, that, built, 1950, bn1f, finibeebn, display, solent, museumrole, ultra, lightnational, origin, united, kingdommanufacturer, britten, normandesigner, john, britten, desmond, normanfirst, flight, 1951. The Britten Norman BN 1F is a British single seat ultralight aircraft that was built in 1950 1 BN1F FinibeeBN 1 on display at the Solent Sky museumRole Ultra LightNational origin United KingdomManufacturer Britten NormanDesigner F R J John Britten amp Desmond NormanFirst flight 1951Retired 1959Status RetiredNumber built 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications Lycoming 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Bibliography 4 External linksDesign and development editIn 1951 Peter Gatrell John Britten amp Desmond Norman built and flew an ultra light monoplane their first aircraft which made its first flight at Bembridge Isle of Wight on 16 May 1951 This machine crashed on an early flight when the petrol supply to the 40 hp Aeronca J A P J 99 twin cylinder air cooled engine faded out 2 Modifications were made to the tail unit by adding small ancillary fins to improve the directional stability inset ailerons were fitted the JAP engine was replaced by a 55 hp 41 kW Lycoming O 145 horizontally opposed twin and the undercarriage was replaced with braced arrangement with rubber bungee springing It was first flown in this form in May 1951 and was withdrawn from use in 1953 It is now on exhibition in the Solent Sky Museum Southampton England on loan from Michael Short of Austin Texas USA The general arrangement of the BN 1 is similar to that of the Comper Swift in particular G ABUS an aircraft that Desmond Norman was associated with along with fellow de Havilland Technical School apprentice Tony Cole that they jointly acquired in 1948 and restored to flying condition 3 In part this was an attempt to restart the club flying scene that had been prevalent in pre war England The BN 1 can be seen as the first steps towards making cheap aviation available to all as the BN 2 Islander was later to achieve for developing countries After a period of display at the Royal Air Force Museum at RAF Cosford the BN 1 was passed to the Solent Sky Museum in Southampton where it is now exhibited John Britten and Desmond Norman went on to form Britten Norman Ltd which became well known for the BN 2 Islander and Trislander series of aircraft and which is still in business at Bembridge Isle of Wight 4 Specifications Lycoming editData from 5 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 16 ft 7 in 5 05 m Wingspan 23 ft 0 in 7 01 m Height 10 ft 5 in 3 18 m Gross weight 630 lb 286 kg Powerplant 1 Lycoming O 145 4 cylinder horizontally opposed piston engine 55 hp 41 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 84 mph 135 km h 73 kn Cruise speed 75 mph 121 km h 65 kn References editNotes edit Photograph of Aircraft G ALZE Caa co uk Retrieved 8 February 2010 Flight International 25 April 1963 p 608 Cooper 1951 p 689 Britten Norman company website Jackson 1973 p 313 Bibliography edit Cooper H J 30 November 1951 The Throttle Benders No 3 A L Cole Flight Vol LX no 2236 pp 697 699 International Aerial Work The far ranging activities of Britten Norman Flight International Vol 83 no 2824 25 April 1963 pp 608 611 Jackson A J 1973 British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1 London Putnam ISBN 0 370 10006 9 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Britten Norman BN 1 UK Civil Aviation Authority record for G ALZE Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Britten Norman BN 1 amp oldid 1066180109, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
