Blackburn Velos

Πρότυπο:Infobox Aircraft The Blackburn T.3 Velos was a 1920s British two-seat coastal defence seaplane built by Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company Limited, Brough Aerodrome and the Greek National Aircraft Factory.

History

The basic design of the Blackburn Dart was developed into a two-seater to meet a Greek Navy requirement for a coastal defence seaplane. The aircraft became the Velos a twin-float seaplane. The main difference was a two-seat cockpit and a rear-mounted Lewis gin, an increased weapons load with the ability to carry four 230 lb bombs mounted under the wings. The aircraft could be converted between a landplane and seaplane. In 1925 a small batch of four aircraft were built at Brough Aerodrome for the Greek Navy. Later in the same year the aircraft was also built by the Greek National Aircraft Factory, a factory built by Blackburn and operated under a five year contract. The first of 12 Greek built aircraft flew in March 1926.

The aircraft began operations with the Greek Navy deployed at Tatoi Aerodrome and Phaleron Bay, Athens. The Velos remained in service until 1934.

The company developed a version with metal floats (the T.3A Velos), despite a sales tour of South America no orders were received. The T.3A was converted into a two-seat trainers, the first of six for the North Sea Aerial and General Transport Co. Ltd to replace the companies Darts. These aircraft were all converted into landplanes by 1929.

By 1935 all the Velos aircraft had been withdrawn from service having been replaced by the by Ripons and Baffins.

Operators

Civil operators

•  Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο : North Sea Aerial and General Transport Company Limited

Military operators

•  Ελλάδα: Greek Navy

Reference

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
• Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10006 9.