BAT Basilisk
British Aerial Transport · United Kingdom · first flew 1918 · fighter
The BAT Basilisk (also known as the F.K.25) was a single-seat biplane fighter developed by British Aerial Transport in 1918, powered by the ABC Dragonfly nine-cylinder radial. It represented a capable but ill-fated design whose promise was undermined by its engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.22 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat biplane fighter with ABC Dragonfly rotary engine
- Compact two-bay wings with rounded tips
- Produced in tiny numbers; Dragonfly unreliability ended the programme
A compact two-bay biplane with rounded wingtips and a large-diameter rotary engine cowl. Similar in outline to other late-WWI British fighters but distinguishable by its very short, stocky fuselage.
Specifications
- The BAT Basilisk has a length of 6.22 m (20 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.72 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 261 km/h (162 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Ordered for evaluation by the Royal Flying Corps, the Basilisk first flew in late 1918 but the ABC Dragonfly engine proved chronically unreliable and produced far less power than claimed. Three prototypes were completed but no production orders followed, and the Armistice made further pursuit unnecessary. The Dragonfly's failure similarly ended numerous promising British fighter designs of the period.
Variants
Three prototypes built; no production variants.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service; evaluated by the RFC/RAF on a trials basis only.
Related aircraft
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