Beardmore W.B.IV
William Beardmore and Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Beardmore W.B.IV was a British single-engine biplane ship-based fighter of World War I. Only one was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Large flotation chamber built into the fuselage under the nose |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engine two-bay biplane with folding wings
- Large flotation chamber built into the fuselage under the nose
- Extra floats fitted at the wing tips
A large permanent flotation chamber was built into the fuselage under the nose, the pilot sat in a watertight cockpit, and additional floats were fitted at the wing tips. The two-bay wings could fold for storage on board ship, and the engine was a Hispano-Suiza V-8.
Specifications
- The Beardmore W.B.IV has a length of 8.08 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.92 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed to meet Admiralty Specification N.1A for a naval land- or ship-based fighter, with safe ditching and staying afloat as the dominant demands. The prototype first flew at the Beardmore factory at Dalmuir on 12 December 1917.
Variants
Only the single prototype was built, and the design was not developed further.
Where you'll see it
The prototype was delivered to Martlesham Heath for evaluation in July 1918. Its performance was poorer than that of the simpler and smaller shipborne Sopwith Camel, and the aircraft was lost when it sank during ditching.
Related aircraft
- Beardmore W.B.II
- Beardmore W.B.III
- Beardmore W.B.V
- Beardmore Wee Bee
- AEG D.I
- AEG Dr.I
- Albatros C.XIII
- Albatros D.IX
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