Blackburn Type E

Monoplane

The Blackburn Type E monoplane (also known as the All-metal Monoplane) was built for the 1912 Military Aeroplane Trials held at Larkhill, on Salisbury Plain against a requirement calling for a two-seat reconnaissance aircraft. In the event however, only the single-seat version took part.

 

The aircraft was a development of the Blackburn second Monoplane and made use of a steel tube structure with the fuselage covered with aluminium panels, making it Britain's first all-metal fuselage design. The warping wings made use of two tubular steel spars, similar to the Mercury III monoplane (described separately) which were fabric covered.

 

Two dissimilar examples were built, the first of which was a single-seater powered by a 60hp Green engine and painted grey. It was was built for Lt. Lawrence of The Indian Aviation Company and was known as 'L’Oiseau Gris' and first flew at Filey in April 1912.  It was delivered to Brooklands in May to take part in the London Aerial Derby but was scratched from the entry list, possibly due to cooling problems.

 

 

The second Type E machine (the Military Monoplane) was a tandem two-seater as prescribed for the Military Trials and was powered by a 70hp Renault V-8 engine.  When first tested in June 1912, it was found to be too heavy, failing to leave the ground and subsequently withdrawn from the trials.

 

 

The aircraft was put on ground display at the Cockburn High School, Leeds in late 1912 in front of a large audience.

 

It was not flown again however and it failed to make an appearance at the 1912 Military Trials, where it was to have been flown by Lt Spenser Grey and Capt R Gordon.