British Aircraft Company B.A.C.VII Family
For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.
Type Description and Production Data
| B.A.C.VII | B.A.C.VII Mk.2 | B.A.C.VII Planette | Drone | Super Drone | Drone de Luxe | B.A.C.VIII |
B.A.C.VII
Two-seat tandem sailplane, a derivative of the B.A.C.VI featuring a redesigned fuselage, a ply-covered rectangular structure with a domed decking and longer nose. The wing, identical to the B.A.C.IV and VI, was located higher on small pylons. The pilot was located under the leading edge, with the passenger was between the wing support pylons. The tailplane was also as the B.A.C.IV and VI, except for a revised, smaller, triangular fin. The new, cross-axle, undercarriage was unsprung and consisted of two small steel-tube vees and a steel tube axle.
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 6 aircraft built by the British Aircraft Company, Maidstone, Kent. Delivered between June 1931 and April 1932. | ||
| 128 | BGA.186 | See note 2. |
| 130?? | BGA.189 | To 'Dixy Services', probably Ronald Dixey Gerrans, Hon. Sec. of the Herts and Essex G.C. |
| 131?? | BGA.193/1 | To Edinburgh G.C. |
| 132 | BGA.197/1 | See note 3. |
| 135 | BGA.196 | Retained by B.A.C. Ltd. Converted to Planette c/n 2 in November 1932 |
| 137 | BGA.198/1 | Retained by B.A.C. Ltd. Converted to Planette c/n 4 in 1933 |
| 1 aircraft built by C. Palmer of Southdown G.C. | ||
| 2 | BGA.120/2 | |
| 1 aircraft kit built by Manchester R.Ae.S. Gliding Club in September 1933. | ||
| 2 | BGA.192/2 | |
| 1 aircraft built by Preston G.C. in July 1934. | ||
| 2 | BGA.198/2 | Converted to Drone c/n PGC.4 G-AENZ in summer 1936. |
| 1 aircraft kit built by Capt. Robert L. Yates in September 1932. | ||
| none | BGA.199 | |
| Total Production 10 | ||
B.A.C.VII Mk.2
Improved and developed version of the B.A.C.VII with longer span wings with slight dihedral, and revised cantilever tailplane.
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 1 aircraft built by the British Aircraft Company, Maidstone, Kent, in 1932. | ||
| See note 1 | none | Believed to have flown |
| Total Production 1 | ||
B.A.C.VII Planette
A single seat conversion of the the B.A.C.VII fitted with a 600cc Douglas motor cycle powerplant developing 6 h.p. mounted on a pylon on top of the wing, with cutout in the trailing edge to accommodate the pusher propeller. A taller rudder was fitted, along with a small windscreen for the pilot.
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 4 aircraft converted from BAC.VII gliders by the British Aircraft Company, Maidstone, Kent. | ||
| 1 | BGA.186 | See note 2. |
| 2 | BGA.196 | Converted November 1932. To Drone as VT-AEU |
| 3 | BGA.197/1 | See note 3. |
| 4 | BGA.198/1 | Converted early 1933. Crashed 13 May 1933 killing Lowe-Wylde. |
| Total Production 4 | ||
B.A.C.VII Drone
Improved Planette with the unused rear cockpit now faired over and a streamlined engine pylon.
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 2 aircraft converted from BAC.VII Planettes. | ||
| 2 | VT-AEU | To India Air Pagents, December 1933. |
| 3 | G-ADSB | See note 3. |
| 2 aircraft built by the British Aircraft Company (1935) Ltd, London Air Park (Hanworth), Middlesex. Delivered as noted. | ||
| 5 | G-ADMU | To A.E.H. Coltman, July 1935. |
| 6 | G-ADSA | To Anglian Air Services, August 1935. |
| Total Production (New Built) 2 | ||
| Total Production Conversions) (2) | ||
B.A.C.VII Super Drone
Improved Drone fitted with folding wings. One 23 h.p. Douglas Sprite powerplant.
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 21 aircraft built by the British Aircraft Company (1935) Ltd, London Air Park (Hanworth), Middlesex. Delivered between August 1935 and August 1936. | ||
| 7 | G-ADPJ | To Cdr J. Dove. |
| 8 | G-ADUA | Retained by B.A.C. Destroyed 1936. |
| 9 | G-AEAN | Retained by B.A.C. Destroyed 1936. |
| 10 | G-AEBC | To Thornes (Worcester) Ltd. |
| 11 | G-AECP | To Tenbury Baths Co. Ltd. |
| 12 | G-AEDA | To R.E. Sharples. |
| 13 | G-AEDB | To G. Scott-Pearce; became BGA.2731, March 1981. |
| 14 | G-AEDC | To F.E. Tasker. |
| 15 | G-AEEO | To C.W.A. Scott's Flying Display Ltd. |
| 16 | G-AEEN | To A. Batchelor. Converted to Drone de Luxe. |
| 17 | G-AEEP | To Ely Aero Club, February 1937. |
| 18 | G-AEJH | To East Midlands Aviation Co. Ltd. |
| 19 | G-AEJK | To the Scottish Flying Club Ltd. |
| 20 | G-AEJL | To V. Greenhous. |
| 21 | G-AEJP | To Aberdeen Flying School Ltd. |
| 22 | G-AEJR | To Thornes (Worcester) Ltd; became BGA.2878. |
| 23 | G-AEJS | To Leicestershire Flying Pou Club. |
| 24 | G-AEKM | To E. Thomas. |
| 25 | G-AEKN | To the Scottish Flying Club Ltd. |
| 26 | G-AEKO | To S.A. Yorke. |
| 27 | VT-AHM | To the Government of India, Simla, New Delhi. |
| 4 aircraft built by the Kronfeld Ltd, London Air Park (Hanworth), Middlesex. Delivered between November 1936 and August 1937. | ||
| 28 | G-AEKT | To Kronfeld Ltd and Mrs J. Jenkinson. |
| 29 | G-AEKU | To Kronfeld Ltd; to R.J. Wynne, May 1938. |
| 31 | G-AESF | To U. Williams. |
| 35 | G-AFBZ | To W.F. Forbes-Sempill (The Rt Hon Lord Sempill); 35 h.p. Ava 4A-02 powerplant. |
| 1 aircraft converted by the Preston Gliding Club in September 1936. | ||
| PGC.4 | G-AENZ | Converted from BAC.VII BGA.198/2. |
| Total Production (New Built) 2 | ||
| Total Production Conversions) (2) | ||
B.A.C.VII Drone de Luxe
Improved Drone fitted with a 30 h.p Carden Ford powerplant.
| Specification | |||||||||
| Span | Length | Height | Wing Area | Empty Wt | Max AUW | Cruise Speed | Maximum Speed | Range | Service Ceiling |
| 39 ft 8 in | 21 ft 2 in | 7 ft | 172 sq ft | 640 lb | 720 lb | 65 mph/ 56 kn | 73 mph/ 63 kn | 340 mi | 12500 ft |
| 12.09 m | 6.45 m | 2.13 m | 15.98 m2 | 290 kg | 327 kg | 105 km/h | 117 km/h | 547 km | 3810 m |
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 1 aircraft converted from Super Drone. | ||
| 16 | G-AEEN | Converted from Super Drone. |
| 1 aircraft built by the Kronfeld Ltd, London Air Park (Hanworth), Middlesex. Delivered between November 1936 and August 1937. | ||
| 30 | G-AEKV | To H.H. Cairns; to BGA.2510, May 1979. |
| Total Production (New Built) 1 | ||
| Total Production (Conversions) (1) | ||
B.A.C.VIII
Two seat tandem sailplane flying boat: B.A.C.VII fitted with a flying boat hull and wing tip floats. Nicknamed the "Bat-Boat".
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 1 aircraft built by the British Aircraft Company, Maidstone, Kent. First flew August 1931. | ||
| see note 1 | none | |
| Total Production 1 | ||
Foreign Derivatives
Societe Gantoise des Avions sans Moteur, Ghent, Belgium
S.G.A.M. Drone
Licence built version of B.A.C. Drone.
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 3 aircraft built by the Societe Gantoise des Avions sans Moteur, Ghent, Belgium. Delivered between June 1933 and April 1934. | ||
| OO-BAC | To the Section Gantoise de Vol sans Moteur, Ghent, ASBL, named 'Jimmy'. | |
| OO-BAD | To the Section Gantoise de Vol sans Moteur, Ghent, ASBL. | |
| OO-BAE | To the Section Gantoise de Vol sans Moteur, Ghent, ASBL. Exported to GB under c/n305. Import denied. | |
| Total Production 3 | ||
Société Française d'Aviation Nouvelle, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France
SFAN.1
Licence built version of B.A.C. Drone. 27 h.p. Poinsard powerplant.
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 20 (?) aircraft built by the Société Française d'Aviation Nouvelle, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France (see note 4). Delivered in 1935. Known serials as listed. | ||
| 6 | F-PEEZ | |
| Total Production 20 (?) | ||
SFAN.2
Improved version of SFAN.1.
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 20 (?) aircraft built by the Société Française d'Aviation Nouvelle, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France (see note 4). Delivered in 1935. Known serials as listed. | ||
| 3 | F-PEEV | |
| 4 | F-PAAA | To Aero Club du Rhone et du Sud Est, Bron. |
| 5 | F-APFV | To Aero Club des Landes, Mont-de-Marsan. |
| 6 | F-PAAL | To Aero Club de Provence. |
| 7 | F-APFN | Club d'Avions Legers des Flandres, Lille. To Fed. Populaire des Sports Aeron in July 1937 as F-PAAB. |
| 9 | F-APDA | To Office National Meteorologique, Trappes. To Aero Club du Limousin, Limoges In December 1936 as F-APMJ. |
| 102 | F-PEEX | To F-PFEX |
| 103 | F-PEEY | To F-BEEY |
| ?? | F-WBTE | |
| Total Production 20 (?) | ||
SFAN.3
Seaplane derivative of SFAN.2.
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 1 aircraft built by the Société Française d'Aviation Nouvelle, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Delivered in 1935. | ||
| TBD | TBD | |
| Total Production 1 | ||
SFAN.4
Side by side two seat derivative of the SFAN.3. 40 h.p. Train powerplant
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 2 aircraft built by the Société Française d'Aviation Nouvelle, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Delivered in 1936. | ||
| 1 | F-PFOO | |
| 2 | ?? | |
| Total Production 2 | ||
SFAN.5
Improved, higher powered, version of SFAN.4 featuring an enclosed cockpit, with a 60 h.p. Train powerplant
Production Details
| C/n | Initial Registration |
Notes |
| 1 aircraft built by the Société Française d'Aviation Nouvelle, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Delivered in 1936. | ||
| ?? | F-BFRK | |
| Total Production 1 | ||
Production Summary
All Aircraft By Type
| Type | Built New | Conv | Canc'd | Total |
| B.A.C.VII | 10 | 10 | ||
| B.A.C.VII Mk.2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| B.A.C.VII Planette | 4 | 4 | ||
| B.A.C.VII Drone | 2 | (2) | 4 | |
| B.A.C.VII Super Drone | 25 | (1) | 26 | |
| B.A.C.VII Drone de Luxe | 1 | (1) | 2 | |
| B.A.C.VIII | 1 | 1 | ||
| 44 | (4) | 0 | 48 |
Societe Gantoise des Avions sans Moteur
All Aircraft By Type
All Aircraft By Type
| Type | Built New | Conv | Canc'd | Total |
| S.G.A.M. Drone | 3 | 3 | ||
| 3 | (0) | 0 |
Société Française d'Aviation Nouvelle
All Aircraft By Type
All Aircraft By Type
| Type | Built New | Conv | Canc'd | Total |
| SFAN.1 | 20 (?) | 20 (?) | ||
| SFAN.2 | 20 (?) | 20 (?) | ||
| SFAN.3 | 1 | 1 | ||
| SFAN.4 | 2 | 2 | ||
| SFAN.5 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 45+(?) | (0) | 0 |
Page Revision History
Revised at Version 2.0.0- Improved Type Description