Blackburn First Monoplane

Robert Blackburn · United Kingdom · first flew 1909 · light aircraft

The Blackburn First Monoplane, also known as Monoplane No 1, was a British experimental aircraft constructed by Robert Blackburn in 1909.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsHigh-mounted, straight
E — Engines1 × piston, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage7.01 m fuselage
T — TailCruciform

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Spot it by:

A high-wing monoplane with a 35 hp Green engine below the wing driving a propeller by chain. The cruciform tail sits on an open boom.

Specifications

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

It was designed during a stay in Paris and built at Thomas Green & Sons in Leeds. Testing began on the beach between Saltburn and Marske in April 1909.

Variants

Only one example was built, so there were no variants.

Where you'll see it

Only taxying trials with the occasional hop were made in 1909. The one flight, on 24 May 1909, lasted about a minute and ended in a crash that wrecked the aircraft.

Related aircraft

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