Beardmore Inflexible

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beardmore_Inflexible

The Beardmore Inflexible, also known as the Rohrbach Ro VI, was a three-engined
all-metal prototype bomber aircraft built by William Beardmore and Company at
Dalmuir, Scotland.

William Beardmore and Company had acquired a licence for the use of the Rohrbach
principle for stressed-skin construction. Using these principles and drawings
supplied by Rohrbach for the RoVI, the Beardmore company designed, what was then
a massive all-metal three-engined transport, the Beardmore Inflexible.

The aircraft (Serial Number J7557) was built in sections at Dalmuir between 1925
and 1927 and these were sent by sea to Felixstowe and from there delivered by
road to the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at
Martlesham Heath Airfield where it first flew on 5 March 1928,[2] appearing at
the Hendon RAF Display later in the year. The aircraft was structurally advanced
for its time and had good flying qualities. It was also a very large aircraft
for the time, having a wingspan of 157 feet (48 m) - around 16 feet (4.9 m)
greater than the Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber of World War II.
However, with an all up weight of 37,000 pounds (17,000 kg). it suffered from
being underpowered and, with no interest in production, the aircraft was
dismantled at Martlesham Heath in 1930. It was then used to investigate the
effects of corrosion on light-alloy stressed skin structures.

One of the aircraft's wheels survives, and is an exhibit in the Science Museum,
London.


Role
Experimental Transport

Manufacturer
Beardmore

Designer
Dr Rohrbach/W.S Shackleton

First flight
5 March 1928

Introduction
1928

Retired
1930

Status
Retired

Primary user
Royal Air Force

Number built
1

Specifications

General characteristics
Length: 75 ft 6 in (23.02 m)
Wingspan: 157 ft 6 in (48.05 m)
Height: 21 ft 2 in (6.45 m)
Wing area: 1,967 sq ft (182.8 m²)
Empty weight: 24,301 lb (11,022 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 37,000 lb (16,783 kg)
Powerplant: 3 × Rolls-Royce Condor II V12 piston engine, 650 hp (485 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 109 mph (95 knots, 175 km/h)




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