Blackburn M.1/30 and B-3

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

M.1/30
Two seat carrier-based torpedo bomber and reconnaissance to meet the requirements of Specification M.1/30. A single-bay biplane, construction was conventional, with a metal structure and fabric covering to both wings and fuselage. Unusually, the braced tailplane was mounted just above the top decking of the rear fuselage, whilst the wings could be folded to the rear, being hinged around their rear spar attachments. Ailerons were fitted on all four mainplanes. The square shaped tailplane and fin were fitted with horn balanced elevators and rudder. A wide track undercarriage allowed for torpedo carriage beneath the fuselage, whilst bomb racks were provided beneath the wings. Crew comprised of a pilot and observer/ gunner, who were seated in tandem cockpits, with the observer being able to access a prone bomb aiming position below the pilot’s cockpit floor. Armament consisted of a single fixed, forward-firing .303 in Vickers machine gun and one .303 in Lewis Gun in rear cockpit. One 1,900 lb Mk VIII or Mk X torpedo or equivalent (maximum 2,200lb) underwing bomb load. One 825 h.p. Rolls-Royce Buzzard IIIMS V-12 powerplant driving a 15 ft diameter, two blade propeller.

B-3 'M.1/30A'
Three seat Private Venture derivative of the original M.1/30, unofficially designated 'M.1/30A'. All metal semi-monocoque fuselage, incorporating sealed compartments to provide buoyancy, and redesigned lower wing of lesser span and chord. The aircraft was also fitted with automatic slats and featured long-span ailerons that could also be lowered symmetrically, to act as camber-changing flaps. A third cockpit was also introduced for a dedicated rear gunner, as well as a sealed structural fuel compartment, which was introduced within the fuselage ahead of the pilot. One 825 h.p. Rolls-Royce Buzzard IIIMS V-12 powerplant.

Serial Range	C/n	Type	Batch Qty	Conv.	Canc'd	Notes
1 aircraft ordered from The Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co. Ltd, Brough, Yorkshire, to contract 55826/30. First flew 8 March 1932.
S1640	3380/1	M.1/30	1
1 aircraft built by The Blackburn Aeroplane and Motor Co. Ltd, Brough, Yorkshire, as a Private Venture. First flew 24 February 1933; to the Air Ministry under contract 244326/33 on 18 May 1933.
K3591	3900/1	M.1/30A	1			Originally flew under Class B conditions as B-3.
	Total Production		2

Blackburn used a series of Works Order Numbers rather than Constructors Numbers to identify individual airframes, but referred to here as C/n's for consistency.

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