BLACKBURN BAFFIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 50, 27 August 1937, Page 10

BLACKBURN BAFFIN

SERVICEABLE MACHINE

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Though the Blackburn Baffin has been displaced in the British Air Forces, where its chief use was in the Fleet Air Arm, by faster and longer range machines, it is a type which is still serviceable for Air Force operations where the range of action is over comparatively restricted distances. Up till recently the New Zealand Territorial Air Force has .had very poor machine equipment and the whole training system could only be described as unsatisfactory and was not productive of any real degree 'of efficiency. The Government has not yet given an indication of the types of machines with which the permanent Air Force, the' R.N.Z.A.F., is to be equipped, but it can be taken as certain that these machines will be of fully modern type, prossessing high speed, long range, and high defensive value. The Blackburn Baffin; has many points of similarity with the Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bombers, which are the most powerful machines at present possessed by the R.N.Z.A.F. Both the Baffin and 4he Vildebeest are tor-pedo-bombers arid general reconnaissance warplanes, and have approximately the same general speed performance, but the Vickers has a longer range and weight-carrying capacity. The Baffins for, the* Territorial Air Force will not apparently for the time being be equipped with torpedoes but will carry other equipment of general purpose reconnaissance machines. The description of the standard Baffin is of a two-seater equal-wing^ single-bay biplane. The planes have spruce spars and ribs and fabric covering. The fuselage is of composite construction, the centre structure, engine mounting, and undercarriage being of steel tube,, and the rear fuselage of wood. Air bags are fitted for flotation in case of forced descent, on the sea (the Baffins being primarily designed for operation from aircraft carriers); The engine is a Bristol Pegasus of 565 h.p., but other types may be fitted. The wing span is 45ft 7£in (Vildebeest 49ft) and the wing area. 682 ft. The wings fold to gi,ye a span of 18ft. The empty, weight is 41801b and the loaded weight 76101b, over three tons, so that disposable weight, pilot and observer, fuel, armament, etc.; is 34301b, about a ton and a half. The top speed is 136 miles an: hour (Vickers 141 m.p.h.) and the service ceiling. 15,000 ft. The endurance of the Baffin is four and a half hours at 100 rri.p.h., whereas the Vickers, when equipped with extra tanks in place of torpedo, has a range of 1160 miles. Figures as to the range of the Baffin when carrying extra tankage are not available. ' •■■■- ■