Misplaced Pages

#808191

75-585: The Blackburn B-101 Beverley is a heavy transport aircraft produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Blackburn Aircraft . It was notably the only land-based transport aeroplane built by Blackburn, a company that otherwise specialised in producing naval fighter aircraft. The Beverley was originally designed by General Aircraft as the GAL.60 Universal Freighter , reflecting its intended use by both military and civil operators. The design process had started during

150-459: A coup d'état . The squadron and its Beverleys would be subsequently deployed to RAF Eastleigh , Kenya and RAF Muharraq , Bahrain . In the former deployment, it assisted in efforts to combat the Mau Mau rebellion and to support Operation Vantage . No 30 Squadron was disbanded during September 1967. Initially, the aircraft were silver overall, but later, those operated by the squadrons based in

225-500: A platoon of infantry, or transporting towed artillery or light vehicles either internally or as underslung roles. Unlike the assault helicopter they are usually not expected to land directly in a contested landing zone, but are used to reinforce and resupply landing zones taken by the initial assault wave. Examples include the unarmed versions of the Mil Mi-8, Super Puma , CH-46 Sea Knight , and NH90 . Heavy lift helicopters are

300-474: A 30-seat coach and a ten-ton excavator . The first prototype was promptly followed by a second, which was designated GAL.65 to signify the modifications made from the original design. These changes were largely necessary due to specification revisions by the Ministry of Supply , which sought an increased all-up weight of 127,000lb, and the ability to carry up to 50,000lb payloads over short distances. Amongst

375-622: A 38,000lb payload, and possessing an all-up weight of 126,000lb, was produced; this was the closest subject of the design study to what would become the Beverley. During the late 1940s, the Air Ministry issued Specification C.3/46 , which sought a medium-range tactical transport aircraft that would, amongst other criteria, have a payload capacity of 25,000lb, a service ceiling of 18,000ft, and be suitable for missions such as air-dropping paratroops , casualty evacuation , glider towing, and

450-738: A climate of significantly reduced military expenditure. The battle was kickstarted by the resignation in December 1918 of William Weir the President of the Air Council (the governing body of the Royal Air Force), who wished to return to his commercial activities. This led the Prime Minister, Lloyd George , to create a Secretary of State for Air , but not as a Cabinet position, and on 9 January 1919 offered Winston Churchill

525-494: A design study that was completed in 1945. An early configuration for the transporter was of a twin-finned, four-engined, fixed undercarriage , pod-and-boom aircraft that had a detachable compartment. This compartment, which heavily resembled the fuselage of the Hamilcar, was intended to be dropped while the aircraft was flown at a very low altitude (ten foot above ground level) to land on its own tracked undercarriage. In 1945, it

600-746: A result, Lloyd George , the British Prime Minister, established a committee composed of himself and General Jan Smuts , which was tasked with investigating the problems with the British air defences and organizational difficulties which had beset the Air Board. Towards the end of the First World War, on 17 August 1917, General Smuts presented a report to the War Council on the future of air power. Because of its potential for

675-527: The Army 's Royal Flying Corps and the Navy 's Royal Naval Air Service had led to serious problems, not only in the procurement of aircraft engines, but also in the air defence of Great Britain. It was the supply problems to which an attempt at rectification was first made. The War Committee meeting on 15 February 1916 decided immediately to establish a standing joint naval and military committee to co-ordinate both

750-539: The Middle East , including demonstrations involving the air-delivery of materials for the oil extraction industry. The Blackburn Beverley was a large transport aircraft, designed for carrying large and bulky payloads and landing on rough or imperfect runways, or dirt strips. In terms of its basic configuration, it was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed undercarriage . The engines and associated accessories were installed in easily interchangeable bays on

825-553: The Ministry of Aviation (1959–67) and finally the Ministry of Technology (1967–70). In the 1920s and early 1930s research and development was more than 20% of the Air Ministry’s total expenditure on aircraft and equipment, making it the largest research and development spending institution in Britain, until it was outstripped by private industry in the later 1930s. The Air Ministry was responsible for weather forecasting over

SECTION 10

#1732780837809

900-565: The Royal Navy to losing their own air service and subsequent lobbying that personnel for naval air purposes afloat be naval officers and ratings – this would have led to a recreation of the now disbanded Royal Naval Air Service . This negotiation led to the creation of RAF Coastal Area the predecessor of RAF Coastal Command to deal with its relationship with the Navy. Throughout 1919 there were discussions between Sir Hugh Trenchard Chief of

975-653: The Second World War , and drew upon the General Aircraft Hamilcar glider. A major design study was conducted in 1945, ahead of Specification C.3/46 being released by the Air Ministry . The company's proposal was accepted and the Air Ministry placed an order for one prototype. General Aircraft was absorbed by Blackburn during the late 1940s, who continued the project. On 20 June 1950, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight from

1050-741: The Secretary of State for Air . On 13 April 1912, less than two weeks after the creation of the Royal Flying Corps (which initially consisted of both a naval and a military wing), an Air Committee was established to act as an intermediary between the Admiralty and the War Office in matters relating to aviation. The new Air Committee was composed of representatives of the two war ministries, and although it could make recommendations, it lacked executive authority. The recommendations of

1125-751: The Solway Aviation Museum acquired the aircraft and launched a £60,000 appeal for donations to cover the costs of further dismantling work then transporting the aircraft to Carlisle for restoration and permanent display there. Three other aircraft survived (two on public display) until 1977, but all were subsequently scrapped: Data from Blackburn Aircraft since 1909 General characteristics Performance Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Military transport aircraft Military transport aeroplanes are defined in terms of their range capability as strategic airlift or tactical airlift to reflect

1200-671: The landing zone . This armament may be in the form of door gunners , or the modification of the helicopter with stub wings and pylons to carry missiles and rocket pods . For example, the Sikorsky S-70 , fitted with the ESSM (External Stores Support System), and the Hip E variant of the Mil Mi-8 can carry as much disposable armament as some dedicated attack helicopters . Medium transport helicopters are generally capable of moving up to

1275-497: The 'devastation of enemy lands and the destruction of industrial and populous centres on a vast scale', he recommended a new air service be formed that would be on a level with the Army and Royal Navy . The new air service was to receive direction from a new ministry and on 29 November 1917 the Air Force Bill received Royal Assent and the Air Ministry was formed just over a month later on 2 January 1918. Lord Rothermere

1350-723: The Air Committee had to be ratified by the Admiralty Board and the Imperial General Staff and, in consequence, the Committee was not particularly effective. The increasing separation of army and naval aviation from 1912 to 1914 only exacerbated the Air Committee's ineffectiveness and the Committee did not meet after the outbreak of the First World War . By 1916 the lack of co-ordination of

1425-546: The Air Ministry. He was interested in developing air links to the Empire and Dominion countries, particularly India and South Africa. He negotiated a subsidy from the Treasury for Imperial Airways to start a service from Cairo to India. Hoare, with his wife Lady Maud, flew on the inaugural 13-day flight to Delhi, leaving Croydon on 26 December 1926 and arriving on 8 January 1927. The air route to Cape Town, after much negotiation,

1500-706: The Air Staff and Sir Rosslyn Wemyss First Sea Lord as to the nature of the relationship between the Air Force and Air Ministry and the Navy and the Admiralty. In 1919 the Air Ministry formally took control of supply, design and inspection of all aircraft (aeroplanes and airships) from the Ministry of Munitions. This helped put the existence of Air Ministry on a firmer footing. Throughout 1919 Churchill persistently supported an independent air force. He presented

1575-572: The Army authorities were ready and willing to provide information and take part in meetings, the Navy were often absent from Board meetings and frequently refused to provide information on naval aviation. In January 1917 the Prime Minister David Lloyd George replaced the chairman Lord Curzon with Lord Cowdray . Godfrey Paine , who served in the newly created post of Fifth Sea Lord and Director of Naval Aviation, sat on

SECTION 20

#1732780837809

1650-459: The Beverley alike provided crucial logistical support during the Brunei revolt of 1962. By July 1963, the squadron's Beverleys had reportedly flown almost two million miles while conveying over 20,000 tons of freight and 60,000 passengers. During August 1967, No. 84 Squadron exchanged its remaining Beverleys for the newer but smaller Hawker Siddeley Andover . Nine aircraft were lost in service with

1725-466: The Committee, stating that "It appears to me quite impossible to bring the two wings closer together ... unless and until the whole system of the Air Service is changed and they are amalgamated into one service." The Joint War Air Committee was composed as follows: Advisory Members were also appointed as required. The next attempt to establish effective co-ordination between the two air services

1800-509: The I.T.P. contract papers for a Wolseley radial aero engine, which would have required re-orientation of their offices with an army of chartered accountants, he decided to deal only with the War Office and the Admiralty, not the Air Ministry. So the aero engine project was abandoned in 1936, see Airspeed . Nevil Shute Norway wrote that the loss of such a technically advanced engine was a great loss to Britain as well as Airspeed, and blamed

1875-606: The Middle East were given an overall sand camouflage finish. The longest-serving Beverleys were those operated by No. 47 Squadron in the UK, which was active between 1956 and 1967. During October 1960, No. 34 Squadron received its aircraft; based at RAF Seletar , it would fly the Beverley until the end of 1967. During this time, No. 34 Squadron carried out flood relief work in South Vietnam . Prior to this, from June/July 1959,

1950-652: The RAF, including one in the Sutton Wick air crash . Two were written off after being damaged by explosive devices (one landmine, one bomb). Only a single Beverley has survived: the first production aircraft, XB259 was on display at Fort Paull , just east of Hull , in England, but was sold at auction in September 2020 and then partly dismantled for a proposed move to the nearby former RAF Riccall . In late January 2024,

2025-493: The RAF. The final operational Beverley was withdrawn from RAF service during August 1967. The origins of the Beverley can be traced back to the British aviation company General Aircraft ; their chief designer F. F. Crocombe worked on the concept as early as 1939. It had been envisaged that, in light of the intense demands of the Second World War , large aircraft designed specifically for transporting bulky payloads would be immediately attractive to military planners. Furthermore, it

2100-547: The UK, from 1919 it being the government department responsible for the Meteorological Office . As a result of the need for weather information for aviation, the Meteorological Office located many of its observation and data collection points on RAF stations . In the 1930s, the Air Ministry commissioned a scientific study of propagating electromagnetic energy which concluded that a death ray

2175-685: The Universities. The Air Ministry was also responsible for civil aviation. Early on Hoare set up the Civil Air Transport Subsidies Committee under the Chairmanship of Sir Hubert Hambling to look at the system of subsidies to competing air lines. They reported in February 1923, favouring a single commercial company to run Britain's air routes. In March 1924 Imperial Airways was created from a merger of

2250-571: The White Paper, largely written by Sir Hugh Trenchard , on the future of the RAF on 12 December 1919. It was this White Paper that was to be the effective charter for the RAF and Air Ministry in subsequent years. In February 1921 Lloyd George appointed Churchill to the Colonial Office and appointed his Chief Whip, Frederick Guest as Secretary of State for Air on 1 April. During his eighteen months in office he played "a minor part in

2325-687: The accessory bays, undercarriage systems, and the clamshell doors, manufactured at the works in Dumbarton . Further orders were subsequently received by Blackburn, including for nine aircraft on 30 July 1954, eight more on 2 January 1956, and another ten aircraft were ordered on 24 September 1956, for a total order of 47 aircraft. All of the production Beverleys would be constructed at Blackburn's Brough facility. Several production aircraft participated in evaluations and test programmes. Amongst these were its tropical trials, conducted in North Africa in

Blackburn Beverley - Misplaced Pages Continue

2400-509: The air-dropping of heavy payloads. The project was boosted by Bristol Aeroplane Company 's agreement to develop a version of the Centaurus engine with a two-speed supercharger , capable of producing up to 1,950lb. General Aircraft were issued with a prototype order from the Air Ministry, the company came to refer to the project as the GAL.60 Universal Freighter to reflect its intended use by both military and civil operators. Construction of

2475-478: The aircraft having a relatively short landing distance as well as the ability to reverse under its own power. The takeoff and landing distances with maximum load were 790 and 310 yards (720 and 280 m). On 14 June 1953, the second prototype performed its first flight. It participated in various trials, including a demonstration air drop over an Army drop zone in Amesbury . Following the completion of testing, it

2550-485: The aircraft, but no other customers were ever secured for the Beverly. One specific customer that Blackburn had pursued in the civil sector was Silver City Airways . It was envisaged that the aircraft would be operated as a cross- Channel car ferry, capable of carrying up to six cars and five motorcycles along with 42 passengers. Other initiatives focused on civil freighter operators, with particular efforts being made in

2625-400: The battle front. Military transport helicopters are used in places where the use of conventional aircraft is impossible. For example, the military transport helicopter is the primary transport asset of US Marines deploying from LHDs and LHA . The landing possibilities of helicopters are almost unlimited, and where landing is impossible, for example densely packed jungle, the ability of

2700-520: The board and this high level representation from the Navy helped to improve matters. Additionally, as responsibility for the design of aircraft had been moved out of single service hands and given to the Ministry of Munitions , some of the problems of inter-service competition were avoided. The Air Board initially met in the Hotel Cecil on the Strand , familiarly known as the "Hotel Bolo". This

2775-483: The centre of the fuselage just forward of the clamshell doors when loading heavy items to prevent the aircraft from tipping back. The flight deck was positioned relatively high, and was accessed via a ladder in the forward portion of the hold. It accommodated two pilots seated in a side-by-side arrangement, who had favourable downwards visibility due to the shaping of the nose; behind them were the navigator and radio operator, seated back-to-back on bench-style seating. All of

2850-490: The company's Brough facility; it was Britain's second largest landplane at the time of the flight. The Ministry of Supply mandated specification changes during the flight test programme, which necessitated a second prototype be constructed to a modified design. On 1 October 1952, an initial order for 20 aircraft was placed on behalf of the Royal Air Force (RAF). On 12 March 1956, the first production Beverley C.1

2925-509: The design and the supply of materiel for the two air services. This committee was titled the Joint War Air Committee, and its chairman was Lord Derby . It was also at the meeting on 15 February that Lord Curzon proposed the creation of an Air Ministry. As with the pre-war Air Committee, the Joint War Air Committee lacked any executive powers and therefore was not effective. After only eight sittings, Lord Derby resigned from

3000-405: The design changes were the substitution of the door-and-ramp combination present at the rear of the aircraft in favour of clamshell doors , while the tailplane boom received seating for 36 passengers. The Bristol Hercules radial engines of the first prototype were replaced with the newer Bristol Centaurus engines, which were furnished with reversible-pitch propellers ; this arrangement led to

3075-579: The desperate struggle to maintain the air force's institutional independence in the face of hostile attacks from the War Office and the Admiralty". More importantly in the long term he was also responsible for the appointment of Sir Sefton Brancker to develop civil aviation. With the fall of Lloyd George Sir Samuel Hoare became the Secretary of State for Air in October 1922 under Bonar Law . On Law's death Stanley Baldwin became Prime Minister and gave

Blackburn Beverley - Misplaced Pages Continue

3150-582: The first four Beverleys to go to the Far East formed the Beverley Flight, No. 48 Squadron, based at RAF Changi . During 1958, No. 84 Squadron became the sixth squadron to fly the Beverley. Based at RAF Khormaksar , Aden , the type was active during the Aden Emergency , providing airlifts and supply drops to British and Saudi Arabian forces stationed in the region. No. 84 Squadron and

3225-429: The first prototype conducted its maiden flight , piloted by chief test pilot Harold Tim Wood; the flight was reportedly trouble-free. At the time of the flight, it was Britain's second largest landplane (the largest being the prototype Bristol Brabazon ). Within four weeks of first flying, the first prototype had flown 21 flights and completed all preliminary handling, performance, and load tests. In September 1950, it

3300-470: The first prototype was undertaken at General Aircraft's Feltham, Middlesex factory. Following the company's merger into Blackburn Aircraft , it was agreed that construction would continue at Feltham, but that, due to the unsuitability of the adjacent Hanworth Aerodrome , it would be disassembled and transported by road to Blackburn's facility in Brough , Yorkshire , where it was reassembled. On 20 June 1950,

3375-414: The flight controls were hydraulically -augmented to reduce pilot fatigue, although manual reversion was possible. A 36 ft (11 m) rectangular main fuselage space was supplemented by passenger accommodation in the tailboom. The main cargo hold had a volume of about 6,000 ft (170 m), which could accommodate 94 troops, with another 36 in the tailboom. The floor, composed of light alloy,

3450-522: The four largest airlines. The third aspect of Hoare's time at the Air Ministry (after the R.A.F. and civil airlines) was to make public opinion sympathetic to air power and air travel. His much publicised flight to India in 1926-7 was part of this. He also realised the importance of the Schneider Trophy and was instrumental in making sure that the R.A.F was involved. Britain's winning entries in 1927, 1929 and 1931 were flown by R.A.F. pilots and

3525-414: The helicopter to hover allows troops to deploy by abseiling and roping . Transport helicopters are operated in assault, medium and heavy classes. Air assault helicopters are usually the smallest of the transport types, and designed to move an infantry squad or section and their equipment. Helicopters in the assault role are generally armed for self-protection both in transit and for suppression of

3600-514: The idea of a university air officer training corps, a sort of Territorial Army for the R.A.F. Hoare and particularly his well connected Parliamentary Private Secretary the academic Sir Geoffrey Butler, then created University Air Squadrons , at Cambridge University then at Oxford University in October 1925, without, however the militarism of the Officer Training Corps and in close collaboration with scientific and engineering work of

3675-472: The largest and most capable of the transport types, currently limited in service to the CH-53 Sea Stallion and related CH-53E Super Stallion , CH-47 Chinook , Mil Mi-26 , and Aérospatiale Super Frelon . Capable of lifting up to 80 troops and moving small Armoured fighting vehicles (usually as slung loads but also internally), these helicopters operate in the tactical transport role in much

3750-468: The lower surface of the wing. The twin- spar wings comprised two separate sections that were bolted onto the fuselage. Simplicity and maintainability were key focus points of its design, thus the Beverley deliberately lacked both pneumatics or cabin pressurisation . The fuselage was divided into four main sections. The aircraft's exterior surface was primarily composed of rivetted Alclad plating. Relatively large low-pressure Dunlop tyres were fitted to

3825-448: The needs of the land forces which they most often support. These roughly correspond to the commercial flight length distinctions: Eurocontrol defines short-haul routes as shorter than 1,500 km (810 nmi), long-haul routes as longer than 4,000 km (2,200 nmi) and medium-haul between. The military glider is an unpowered tactical air transport which has been used in some campaigns to transport troops and/or equipment to

SECTION 50

#1732780837809

3900-419: The over-cautious high civil servants of the Air Ministry. When he had asked Lord Nuffield to retain the engine, Nuffield said: I tell you, Norway ... I sent that I.T.P. thing back to them, and I told them they could put it where the monkey put the nuts! In later years the actual production of aircraft was the responsibility of the Ministry of Aircraft Production (1940–46), the Ministry of Supply (1946–59),

3975-736: The position Cabinet status in May 1923, and Hoare remained in the post until January 1924, when a Labour government took power. Lord Thomson was made Secretary of State for Air. A supporter of airships, Thomson was responsible for the Imperial Airship Scheme , which involved the construction of R101 at the Royal Airship Works at Cardington. After the fall of the MacDonald government in November 1924 Hoare returned to

4050-577: The retirement of the Handley Page Hastings . During February 1966, No. 30 Squadron started performing its most distant assignment to use the type, delivering humanitarian aid and other supplies to Da Nang , Vietnam . The squadron continued operating the Beverley until October 1967, at which point the squadron disbanded. During April 1957, No. 30 Squadron received its Beverleys, being initially based at RAF Dishforth . In June 1958, it participated in airlift operations to Iraq in response to

4125-544: The same way as small fixed wing turboprop air-lifters. The lower speed, range and increased fuel consumption of helicopters are offset by their not requiring a runway. Air Ministry The Air Ministry was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force , that existed from 1918 to 1964. It was under the political authority of

4200-487: The single-wheel undercarriage, which reportedly gave a similar wheel loading to the much smaller Douglas DC-3 . The fuselage directly attached to the tailboom and its large rectangular twin-fin tailplane. The cantilever tail surfaces were all-metal and featured a dihedral to keep them clear of the inboard engine's slipstream . The tailboom permitted access to the rear of the fuselage through removable clamshell doors. A device called an Elephant's Foot could be fitted under

4275-525: The summer of 1955, and its winter trials, conducted in Canada during late 1955 and early 1956. In December 1956, the first production Beverley performed a rocket-assisted take off (RATOG) during short take off trials. On 23 April 1953, the Beverley received its certificate of airworthiness . A total of 49 aircraft were produced, with the last Beverly being completed during 1958. Various proposals were studied by Blackburn for refined or reconfigured variants of

4350-414: The tailplane; paratroopers were also able to exit the cargo hold through the side doors. The Beverley was equipped with toilets, which were situated in the tail beyond the paratroop hatch located on the floor of the tailboom. Following a fatal incident where a serviceman fell twenty feet to the ground while exiting the toilet, unaware that the paratroop hatch had been opened, modifications were made to prevent

4425-477: The teams partially subsidised by the Air Ministry. The Air Ministry issued specifications for aircraft that British aircraft companies would supply prototypes to. These were then assessed, if ordered the Ministry assigned the aircraft name. (see List of Air Ministry specifications ). The ordering procedure used I.T.P. (Intention to Proceed) contract papers; these specified a maximum fixed price, which could (after investigation) be less. But when Lord Nuffield got

4500-472: The toilet doors from being opened while the paratroop hatch was open. On 29 January 1955, the first production Beverley from an original order for 20 aircraft made its first flight. This same aircraft was delivered to No. 47 Squadron , stationed at RAF Abingdon , on 12 March 1956. The type was quickly used to establish regular freight services to RAF Wildenrath in Germany. Upon its entry to service, it

4575-498: The two posts of Secretary of State for War , which was a Cabinet position, and Secretary of State for Air both of which he accepted. This combination under one person by was criticised in both the press and Parliament. However, Churchill re-iterated that the continued "integrity, the unity, the independence of the Royal Air Force will be sedulously and carefully maintained". During 1919 it was also decided that civil aviation

SECTION 60

#1732780837809

4650-665: Was a humorous reference to Bolo Pasha (shot for treason in 1918 by the French government) whose attempts to undermine the French war effort with German-funded newspaper propaganda were likened to the unhelpful rivalry between the RFC and the RNAS. Despite attempts at reorganization of the Air Board, the earlier problems failed to be completely resolved. In addition, the growing number of German air raids against Great Britain led to public disquiet and increasing demands for something to be done. As

4725-511: Was appointed the first Air Minister . On 3 January, the Air Council was constituted as follows: The Air Ministry continued to meet in the Hotel Cecil on the Strand. Later, in 1919, it moved to Adastral House on Kingsway . The creation of the Air Ministry resulted in the disestablishment of the Army Council 's post of Director-General of Military Aeronautics. In 1919 the RAF and the Air Ministry came under immense political and inter service pressure for their very existence, particularly in

4800-417: Was corrugated and stressed to take distributed loads of 325lb per square foot. Various payloads could be carried, including numerous vehicles. In one configuration, a maximum of nine Jeep -style road vehicles could be carried, a single fully-fuelled bulldozer could also be transported. Paratroopers in the upper passenger area jumped through a hatch in the base of the boom just in front of the leading edge of

4875-426: Was delivered to No. 47 Squadron , stationed at RAF Abingdon . Between 1956 and 1967, the Beverley would be flown by six squadrons of the Royal Air Force Transport Command . With the RAF, the Beverley would be deployed to various corners of the globe, including Kenya , Bahrain , and Vietnam . Despite ambitions to secure commercial customers for the type, Blackburn were unable to garner orders beyond those placed by

4950-412: Was finalised in 1929, before he left office, but only commenced in 1932. His time at the Air Ministry was marked by several important developments that were to confirm the status of the Royal Air Force as a separate entity, play a part in the growth of civil aviation and to develop the awareness of the public about aviation. An early priority for Sir Hugh Trenchard , Chief of the Air Staff 1919–1930,

5025-495: Was first exhibited to the public at the Farnborough Airshow , where an order for a second prototype was announced. Thereafter, it was flown to RAF Boscombe Down for evaluation by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment ; handling trials were successfully completed within a relatively short period of three weeks. The prototype participated in competitive trials against an American Fairchild C-82 Packet . It also demonstrated its ability to transport heavy loads, including

5100-416: Was impractical but detection of aircraft appeared feasible. Robert Watson-Watt demonstrated a working prototype and patented the device in 1935 (British Patent GB593017). The device served as the base for the Chain Home network of radars to defend Great Britain. By April 1944, the ministry's air Intelligence branch had succeeded in its intelligence efforts regarding " the beams , the Bruneval Raid ,

5175-488: Was proposed for the aircraft to be powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, capable of carrying a payload of 20,000lb, and having an all-up weight of 75,000lb. Several other configurations were studied, including both twin-engined and four-engined arrangements. An alternative powerplant arrangement of four Bristol Hercules radial engines was also examined. Fixed freight compartments were also present. An enlarged design, powered by four Bristol Centaurus engines, carrying

5250-453: Was reasoned that such an aircraft would also have a future on the civilian market. It was to be capable of operating as a strategic transport , moving materials and personnel between theatres, and as a tactical transport , deploying straight to the front lines, as well. A greater understanding of tactical transport requirements was gained by wartime experiences, particularly in producing the General Aircraft Hamilcar ; these experiences fed into

5325-414: Was returned to Brough to be rebuilt into a production standard aircraft. On 1 October 1952, an initial order for 20 aircraft was placed on behalf of the Royal Air Force (RAF), which designated it as the Beverley C.1 (Beverley, Cargo Mark 1). The name Beverley was officially given to the aircraft in December 1952. To accelerate production, Blackburn had several of the aircraft's subassemblies, including

5400-445: Was the creation of an Air Board. The first Air Board came into being on 15 May 1916 with Lord Curzon as its chairman. The inclusion of Curzon, a Cabinet Minister, and other political figures was intended to give the Air Board greater status than the Joint War Air Committee. In October 1916 the Air Board published its first report which was highly critical of the arrangements within the British air services. The report noted that although

5475-532: Was the largest aircraft operated by the RAF. It became commonly regarded as being "ungainly but highly effective" and was described by Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Freer as "like something out of the Ark, but it was a superb supply dropper." During early 1957, No. 53 Squadron, which was also based at RAF Abingdon, received its first Beverleys; it was absorbed into No. 47 Squadron in June 1963. Its introduction allowed for

5550-526: Was to be brought into the Air Ministry rather than being dealt with by either the Board of Trade or the Foreign Office. The Army and the War Office had largely agreed to the continued existence of the RAF due, in part, to the enthusiasm for the air service by the Army's political leader Winston Churchill. However, one of the main difficulties for the RAF and Air Ministry in 1919 was the opposition by

5625-501: Was to establish the officer cadet training college at Cranwell as a permanent establishment. It was Hoare's job to negotiate with the Treasury for the necessary funds. After much resistance Hoare managed to include a provision for permanent buildings in his estimates for 1929. The foundation stone of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell was laid in 1929 and formally opened in 1934. Trenchard had conceived

#808191