Blackburn B.44

Blackburn B.44
Role	Fighter flying boat
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Blackburn Aircraft

The Blackburn B.44 was a British single-engined fighter aircraft designed by Blackburn Aircraft in 1942. It was notable as a rare example of a flying boat fighter, featuring Blackburn's unique retractable hull, and designed to meet the requirements of Air Ministry Specification N.2/42.

Development

After Japan's initial successes in the Pacific during World War II, the need for a fighter aircraft capable of operating from austere island sites with minimal infrastructure was regarded as a high priority.

N.2/42 called for a retractable-hull flying-boat fighter, and Blackburn decided to utilise as much of the structure of the Blackburn Firebrand as possible. The fuselage of the aircraft was to be split in two with the lower float-like half extending and retracting hydraulically.

The Napier Sabre engine was to have been in the nose of the upper fuselage half, and armament was to have been carried in the wings. The protracted development due to engine supply difficulties and serious control and stability shortcomings of the Firebrand, led to cancellation of the B.44. Further work on the flying boat fighter concept was carried out by Saunders-Roe, leading to the Saunders-Roe SR.A/1.

Specifications

Data from British Experimental Combat Aircraft of World War II: Prototypes, Research Aircraft and Failed Production Designs^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 39 ft 4 in (11.99 m)
Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Wing area: 381 sq ft (35.4 m²)
Gross weight: 14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Napier Sabre IV 24-cylinder liquid-cooled H engine, 2,240 hp (1,670 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 360 mph (580 km/h, 310 kn) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
Service ceiling: 38,000 ft (12,000 m)
Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10 m/s)

Armament

Guns: 4× 20mm cannon
Bombs: 2× 500 lb (230 kg) bombs

References

Notes

^ Buttler 2012, p. 16

Bibliography

"Blackburn B20, B40 and B44". Air-Britain Aeromilitaria. Vol. 33, no. 130. Summer 2007. pp. 65–68. ISSN 0262-8791.
Buttler, Tony (2012). British Experimental Combat Aircraft of World War II: Prototypes, Research Aircraft and Failed Production Designs. Manchester, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 978-1902-109244.
Buttler, Tony (2004). British Secret Projects: Fighters & Bombers 1935–1950. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-179-2.
Meekcoms, K. J; Morgan, E. B. (1994). The British Aircraft Specification File. Air-Britain Publications. ISBN 0-85130-220-3.
Jackson, A. J. (1968). Blackburn Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam. ISBN 0370-000536.

External links

[butexp16-1] Buttler 2012, p. 16

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