Blackburn Shark
Blackburn Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1933 · transport aircraft
The Blackburn Shark was a British single-engine biplane torpedo bomber that served with the Fleet Air Arm in the mid-1930s. It bridged the gap between earlier fabric-covered biplanes and the later monoplane torpedo bombers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.67 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British 1930s biplane torpedo bomber with spatted fixed undercarriage
- Single Armstrong Siddeley Tiger radial engine in a large cowling
- Fabric-covered all-metal biplane with folding wings for carrier storage
Single-engine biplane with high-mounted upper wing, large radial engine cowling, spatted fixed undercarriage, and torpedo crutch beneath the lower fuselage.
Specifications
- The Blackburn Shark has a length of 10.67 m (35 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.02 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 241 km/h (150 mph).
- Typical crew: 2-3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed as a replacement for the Blackburn Ripon, the Shark entered service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1935. It served aboard Royal Navy carriers in the torpedo bomber and reconnaissance roles. Canada also operated the Shark from shore bases for coastal patrol and target towing. By the outbreak of World War II the type had been largely replaced by the Swordfish, though some remained in secondary roles.
Variants
The Shark Mk I, II, and III differed primarily in engine fit and minor equipment changes; a Canadian licence-built version served the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm from 1935 to around 1938 in front-line torpedo bomber squadrons; the Royal Canadian Air Force operated Sharks until 1944 in training and coastal patrol roles.
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