Blackburn Sidecar

The side-by-side two-seat Sidecar was built by the Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Co. Ltd. at Brough in 1919 for Mr.K.M Smith.

It was a small mid-winged aircraft,[1] with wings and other flying surfaces of constant chord. It had no fixed tail surfaces. The triangular cross-section fuselage was unusually deep, such that the undercarriage cross-axle was attached to the keel or bottom longeron.

The sole Sidecar, eventually registered G-EALN on 26 August 1920, was exhibited at Harrods Department store in Knightsbridge during March 1919. It did not fly with the low-powered Gnat.[1] About July 1921 the aircraft was sold to Mr. Haydon-White, Blackburn's London manager who had it re-engined with a 100-horsepower (75-kilowatt) Anzani radial.[1] By October 1921 it was logged as unairworthy. There is no record of it flying during these four months.[1]

Data from Janes 1919.

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: one passenger
• Length: 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
• Wingspan: 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)
• Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) [1]
• Wing area: 123 sq ft (11.43 m²) [1]
• Empty weight: 392 lb (178 kg) [1]
• Gross weight: 850 lb (386 kg) [1]
• Powerplant: 1 × ABC Gnat flat twin[1] , 40 hp (30 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 83 mph (134 km/h, 72 kn) (estimated)
• Range: 300 mi (480 km, 260 nmi) (estimated)[1]