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British Aircraft Company B.A.C.II Family

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For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Type Description and Production Data

B.A.C.II B.A.C.III B.A.C.IV B.A.C.V B.A.C.VI
Production Summary
B.A.C.II
Single-seat primary glider based on the B.A.C.I but featuring a plywood box spar fuselage. A simple rectangular fin was mounted on top of the fuselage, with the tailplane mounted at the mid point. Wings, tailplane and rudder were as the B.A.C.I.

Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW
33 ft 9 in 18 ft 6 in 169 sq ft 161 lb
10.29 m 5.64 m 15.7 m2 73 kg

Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 15 aircraft built by the British Aircraft Company, Maidstone, Kent. Delivered between August and December1930.
 100  BGA.179  To North Kent G.C.
 102  BGA.104  To North Staffordshire G.C. Provided with an alternative fuselage to be flown as BAC.II or BAC.III
 104  BGA.145/1  To Isle of Wight G.C.
 105  BGA.146  To Bridlington G.C. Provided with an alternative fuselage to be flown as BAC.II or BAC.III
 106  BGA.147  To Rugby District G.C.
 107  BGA.148/1  To Dumfries and District G.C.
 108  BGA.149  To Furness G.C. Provided with an alternative fuselage to be flown as BAC.II or BAC.III
 110  BAG.151  To Worthing and District G.C.
 111  BGA.150  To Isle of Thanet G.C.
 112  BGA.152  To Edinburgh Gliding Club
 114  BGA.153  To Falkirk and District G.C.
 117  BGA.155  To Comrie G.C.
 118  BGA.156  To Wrexham aand District G.C.
 119  BGA.157  To Dover G.C. (owned by Clarence Gilbert Miller).
 123  BGA.169  To Wolseley G.C.
Total Production  15
B.A.C.III
Single-seat secondary glider, consisting of the wings and tail from the B.A.C. II combined with a new fuselage enclosing the pilot. The fuselage was of wooden construction with four longerons, the front structure covered with plywood and the after portion with fabric. The pilot sat in front of the wing, which was braced with parallel struts on each side to the skid. The fin was of reduced height, while the cantilever tail unit located at mid height.

Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW
33 ft 9 in 19 ft 10 in 169 sq ft 180 lb
10.29 m 6.05 m 15.7 m2 82 kg

Production Details (See Note 2)
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 2 aircraft built by the British Aircraft Company, Maidstone, Kent. Delivered as noted.
 116  BGA.154  To Glasgow G.C.; delivered December 1930.
 129  BGA.159  To Edgar Sharples, president of Accrington G.C.; delivered February 1932.
Total Production  2
B.A.C.IV
Single-seat secondary sailplane, an improved version of the B.A.C.III with longer span wings, featuring tapered outboard sections with rounded tips. Tailplane, fin and rudder as the B.A.C.III.

Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW
40 ft 9 in 19 ft 10 in 200 sq ft
12.42 m 6.05 m 18.58 m2

Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 aircraft built by the British Aircraft Company, Maidstone, Kent. Delivered August 1930.
 121??  BGA.181  To Christopher M.C. Turner, Channel G.C.; converted to BAC.VI in June 1931
 1 aircraft built in 1936 by Furness Gliding Club from parts.
 (none?)  BGA.255  
Total Production (New Built)  1
Total Production (Built from parts)  (1)
B.A.C.V
B.A.C.III fitted with twin mainwheels for auto-towing.
Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 aircraft built by the British Aircraft Company, Maidstone, Kent. Delivered August 1931.
 127  BGA.188  To Border G.C.
Total Production  1
B.A.C.VI
B.A.C.IV fitted with twin mainwheels for auto-towing.
Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 aircraft built by the British Aircraft Company, Maidstone, Kent. Delivered August 1930.
 122  BGA.182  To Taunton and West Somerset G.C.
 1 aircraft converted by (Channel Gliding Club?) in June 1931.
 121??  BGA.181  To Christopher M.C. Turner, Channel G.C.
Total Production (New Built)  1
Total Production (Conversions)  (1)

Production Summary

All Aircraft By Type
Type Built New Conv Canc'd Total
 B.A.C.II 15 15
 B.A.C.III 2 2
 B.A.C.IV 2 2
 B.A.C.V 1 1
 B.A.C.VI 1 (1) 2
4 (1) 0

Notes

  1. The following c/ns are unaccounted for: 103, 115, 120, 124, 125, 126, 133, 134, 136. Possibly other BAC.II's were amongst these.
  2. Three B.A.C. II primaries delivered along with alternative B.A.C. III fuselages, so they could be flown in either configuration.

Production References

  1. British Gliders and Sailplanes 1922-1970, Norman Ellison (Adam and Charles Black, 1970)
  2. Air Britain Archive, 2013/3, 2013/4, 2014/1 and 2014/3 (Air-Britain Publications)
  3. Sailplane & Glider, Vol 1 No.7
  4. Sailplane & Glider, Vol 2 No.3

Page Revision History

Revised at Version 2.0.0
  • Moved B.A.C.III to B.A.C.VI here from Low Volume page.