British Aircraft Swallow

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Aircraft_Swallow

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.

The German aircraft manufacturer Klemm developed a successful low-powered light
aeroplane, the Klemm L.25, which first flew in 1927, 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.

The prototype of the licensed version, known as the B.K. Swallow, first flew at
Hanworth in November 1933. 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.

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.

Role
Light tourer

Manufacturer
British Klemm/British Aircraft Manufacturing

First flight
1933

Number built
135

Developed from
Klemm L.25

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.

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 propellors 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.

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.

Specifications (B.K. Swallow)

General characteristics
Crew: two
Length: 26 ft 3 in (8.00 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft 8½ in (13.02 m)
Height: 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Wing area: 219½ ft² (20.4 m²)
Empty weight: 960 lb (436 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,500 lb (682 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pobjoy Cataract II Radial engine, 85 hp (63 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 90 knots (104mph, 167 km/h)
Cruise speed: 78 knots (90mph, 145 km/h)
Range: 365 nm (420 mi, 676 km)
Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,200 m)
Rate of climb: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s)




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