BLACKBURN BLACKSTAR
Just a quick build to get back in the game after an enforced break. I thought I’d go back to the glorious 50s and invent something that could have come off the Blackburn drawing board at around the same time as the legendary Buccaneer.
Background:
In an attempt to interest the RAF in a new jet-powered interceptor to replace its aging first generation Meteors, the Blackburn company produced a prototype in response to the British Air Ministry Specification F.43/46.
The new aircraft drew on many innovative features and was to be powered by an improved Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire engine, developing 10,000 lbs of thrust and incorporating a small plenum-chamber afterburner. The first aircraft rolled out in June of 1951, beating the rival Hawker Hunter by over a month - in fact, the designs were so similar that industrial espionage was suspected, but later disproven.
The Blackstar was the first Blackburn aircraft to improve lift capability by using the Boundary Layer Control system subsequently fitted to the groundbreaking Buccaneer. The twin intakes for the system can be seen on the upper surface of the wings.
Two “wet” wing hardpoints for 15 gallon external tanks and four weapons hardpoints made the aircraft a worthy contender for either interceptor or ground attack roles. Additional armament comprised 4 lateral nose-mounted 30mm Aden cannon.
Controls:
AG1 Reheat
VTOL + AG2 Flaps
VTOL + AG3 Airbrakes
AG4 Navigation Lights
AG5 Landing Lights
AG6 Drop External Tanks
AG7 Drop External Stores
Have fun and please comment.
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Successors 1 airplane(s)
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 43.0ft (13.1m)
- Length 45.4ft (13.8m)
- Height 13.3ft (4.0m)
- Empty Weight 29,349lbs (13,312kg)
- Loaded Weight 33,529lbs (15,208kg)
Performance
- Power/Weight Ratio 1.105
- Wing Loading 76.8lbs/ft2 (375.1kg/m2)
- Wing Area 436.5ft2 (40.5m2)
- Drag Points 8347
Parts
- Number of Parts 362
- Control Surfaces 12
- Performance Cost 1,255
@GhostHTX Hello, old bean! Sorry for disappearing like a fart in a storm, but it really wasn't down to me. Glad you like my little re-entry project, a quick build with no pretensions. True to form, I didn't check enough before uploading; I really should have noticed that trim problem. To be honest, I don't use trim in the game, because i have no stick forces to eliminate... that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it! I love the "buxom" look of copious amounts of wing too, glad we have similar tastes ;-)
One wee niggle. It looks like trim acts on the ailerons as well as the elevators. Trim the nose up and she lurches to the left. Nose down, the right. An easy fix, though.
Very nice kite, this!
Alien! Bloody good to see you back, old boy! Very nice! I love the obscene anount of wing she has.
Ive not been too active lately either. Got myself a new job and they do not spare the whip, let me tell you... My first time working for a UK employer for a decade or so and the culture change is palpable.
@ThePilotDude Yeah, I messed up during the initial naming. Sorry bro!
@Tang0five Much appreciated, my old fruit. Nice to be back.
Very dapper and realistic back story once more, good to see you back old bean!