Blackburn Beverley

Military transport aircraft introduced in 1955

Overview

Hawker Siddeley United Kingdom 1950–1958

The Blackburn Beverley was manufactured by Blackburn and General Aircraft as a British military transport aircraft during the 1950s. It first flew in June 1950 and was introduced in 1955. The aircraft was operated by squadrons of the Royal Air Force Transport Command from 1957 to 1967. It was produced from 1950 to 1958 with a total of 49 Beverleys built.

Specifications

Units
Engine
4 × Bristol Centaurus 173 radial engine
Engine type
other: Other
Power
4 × 2,850 hp · 2,125 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
94
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
99 ft 5 in  ·  30.30 m
Tail height
38 ft 9 in  ·  11.80 m
Fuselage diameter
12 ft 9 in  ·  3.88 m
Wing span
162 ft 1 in  ·  49.40 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
135,000 lb  ·  61,000 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
44,100 lb  ·  20,000 kg
Fuel capacity
8,250 gal · 31,300 L · 25,000 kg (Jet A)
Max cruise speed
208 kt  ·  239 mph  ·  385 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
—
Range
3,440 nm  ·  3,960 mi  ·  6,370 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
16,000 ft  ·  4,900 m
Rate of climb
760 ft/min  ·  4 m/s
Takeoff distance
1,350 ft  ·  410 m
Landing distance
980 ft  ·  300 m
(/) tap to zoom
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Blackburn Beverley C.1 ‘XB290′

Operational Context

The Beverley was developed and produced by General Aircraft as the GAL.60 Universal Freighter during the 1950s. The first prototype was disassembled at the factory in Feltham, Middlesex, and transferred to Brough, Yorkshire. On June 20, 1950, it took to the air for the first time. The Gal.65 was the second prototype designation that featured some changes from the initial prototype.

The B-101 or Beverly C Mk 1 is a medium-range tactical transport version for the Royal Air Force. I can carry four crew members including two pilots, a radio operator, and a navigator; and has a capacity for ninety-four troops or seventy paratroopers. It has an external length of 30.30 meters, an external height of 8.3 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 3.88 meters. The tail height is 11.81 meters and the wheelbase is 9.1 meters. It has a wingspan of 49.38 meters and a wing area of 270.9 square meters. The empty weight is 35,938 kg, the maximum takeoff weight is 61,235 kg, the maximum payload is 20,000 kg, and the fuel tank capacity is 8,260 US gal.

The aircraft is powered by four Bristol Centaurus 173 engines. It is an eighteen-cylinder, air-cooled, two-row radial engine with sleeve valves, two-speed centrifugal single-stage supercharger, injection fuel system, direct-pressure lubrication oil system, and an air-cooling system. Each engine produces a maximum takeoff thrust of 2,850 horsepower and drives a four-bladed de Havilland reversible-pitch propellers. The Beverley has a maximum speed of 207 knots and a recommended cruise speed of 150 knots. It has a travel range of 1,100 nautical miles at 8,000 feet with 13,000 kg of payload and 140 nautical miles with 23,000 kg of payload. The ferry range is 3,440 nautical miles at 3,600 kg. It can fly up to 16,000 feet and can climb at a rate of 760 feet per minute. It has a takeoff distance of 408 meters and a landing distance of 277 meters.