Beardmore W.B.XXVI
William Beardmore and Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1923 · fighter
The Beardmore W.B.XXVI was a British single-seat biplane fighter prototype of the early 1920s, developed by the Scottish engineering firm William Beardmore and Company as a contender for Royal Air Force fighter contracts. It represented one of several British fighter designs that competed unsuccessfully against the Nieuport Nighthawk and Sopwith lineage.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.48 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Single-seat biplane fighter prototype from Scottish manufacturer, early 1920s
- Beardmore inline engine in a cleanly cowled nose installation
- One of several inter-war British fighter contenders not adopted by the RAF
A conventional early-1920s biplane fighter with tapered wings and an inline engine; distinguishable from RAF adopted types mainly through its Beardmore engine installation and slightly different wing planform.
Specifications
- The Beardmore W.B.XXVI has a length of 8.48 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.28 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 233 km/h (145 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built around 1923, the W.B.XXVI was evaluated but not selected for RAF service in the competitive post-war British fighter market. Beardmore had been a significant aircraft manufacturer during World War I but struggled to maintain a foothold in the peacetime aviation industry.
Variants
A single prototype only; Beardmore's aircraft activities wound down in the mid-1920s.
Where you'll see it
Never entered RAF service; used only for evaluation purposes.
Related aircraft
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