The Yorkshire based company of Blackburn,between the wars, always tried to plan and develop naval warplanes,sometimes with unbelievable ugly results,but not so in this case.
It was realized that a torpedo carrying aircraft was a very potent war machine and so Blackburn began to develop a design by Major F.A.Bumpus, firstly entitled the Ripon, sadly underpowered, and then upgraded to the then called Baffin, both of which went into production,the Ripons which were already produced, being upgraded to Baffin standards.
In spite of the small production numbers,the Baffin spread to very wide horizons,for example Finland and New Zealand Navy (RNZN). The eventual torpedo aircraft adopted by the Fleet Air Arm, some years later was the Fairy Swordfish, famous in it's own right, was only marginally better than the Baffin.
The FAA skin represents a No.820 Sqn, FAA aircraft which flew from HMS Courageous untill replaced by Swordfish 1939. The New Zealand skin is from a training squadron of the RNZN 1940-41. By Shessi.
Submitted by Shessi
It was realized that a torpedo carrying aircraft was a very potent war machine and so Blackburn began to develop a design by Major F.A.Bumpus, firstly entitled the Ripon, sadly underpowered, and then upgraded to the then called Baffin, both of which went into production,the Ripons which were already produced, being upgraded to Baffin standards.
In spite of the small production numbers,the Baffin spread to very wide horizons,for example Finland and New Zealand Navy (RNZN). The eventual torpedo aircraft adopted by the Fleet Air Arm, some years later was the Fairy Swordfish, famous in it's own right, was only marginally better than the Baffin.
The FAA skin represents a No.820 Sqn, FAA aircraft which flew from HMS Courageous untill replaced by Swordfish 1939. The New Zealand skin is from a training squadron of the RNZN 1940-41. By Shessi.
Submitted by Shessi
