The Blackburn Baffin

The Blackburn Baffin’s design was directly influenced by the early versions of the Ripon torpedo/bomber platform. But unlike the underpowered Ripon, the Baffin B-5, as the aircraft was marked, was sufficiently equipped for its proposing operational role.

Inspired by alterations performed on Ripons in Finland, Major FA Bumpus, the chief designer of the B-5; decided to incorporate into the new aircraft a full radial engine. In those early days of aviation, the water cooled inline plants were the power plant of choice.

Bumpus’ effort resulted in a frontline, two-seat single bay biplane torpedo-bomber of mixed metal and wood construction. The British aviation pioneer began working on his blue print in the summer of 1931. By August 1932, he developed his first prototype which made its first flight on the afternoon of September 30th. After a brief series of successful tests, the Royal Navy issued Order No. 168, calling for the delivery of 25 Baffins within one year.

Full production of the plane was achieved in February 1933, with the first batch, twenty nine aircraft, delivered between the summer and winter. Beside the brand new Baffin, sixty Ripons were converted to the new standard. The British Navy began assimilating the B-5 into its force from early 1934.

The first unit to be reequipped with the Baffin was No. 812 Squadron operating out of HMS Glorious. HMS Courageous (No. 820 Squadron), Eagle (812) and Furious (811) also fitted their air arms with the B-5.

Although the aircraft entered World War II in an active mode, it never saw combat operations. In fact, the Navy was deeply submerged in the process of removing it from service when the Germans invaded Poland.

In 1937, the New Zealand commonwealth pursed 29 B-5s from England in order to bolster their Territorial Air Force stationed at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The New Zealand air force employed the type as a reconnaissance platform at the outset of the war. But due to its lack of power and low survivability ratio, the plane was removed from frontline service in 1941.

No sample of this remarkable aircraft remains today.

Power plant: One Bristol 565hp Pegasus IM3 radial engine
Length: 11.68m
Height: 3.91m
Wingspan: 13.88m
Total wing area: 63.45m (square)
Maximum takeoff weight: 3,452kg
Top speed: 219kph
Service ceiling: 4,570m
Climb rate: 146m per minute
Operational range: 869 nautical miles
Armament: One fixed .303″ forward firing Vickers machine gun. One .303 Lewis machine gun in the rear cockpit. Total bomb load was 907kg.

An article by Raul Colon: rcolonfrias@yahoo.com

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