Blackburn's response to the evolving specification began as an all-metal development of the Ripon rather than an entirely unrelated aircraft. Reduced wing area, a semi-monocoque fuselage, and interconnected ailerons that could act as camber-changing flaps addressed slow, low-level naval flying. Alclad covering and internal watertight compartments replaced reliance on flotation bags and increased reserve buoyancy. A sealed stainless-steel section of the fuselage became three accessible fuel compartments, integrating more than 250 gallons into the structure while simplifying inspection and repair. The B.3 also carried forward and rear guns, multiple bomb combinations, an 18-inch torpedo, wireless equipment, distress gear, a dinghy, and parachutes. This dense design passage shows how range, survivability, maintenance, and weapon flexibility had to be solved together.
Chapter · 1:00:17-1:05:03
The B.3 integrates structure, buoyancy, fuel, and weapons
Blackburn's M.1/30A and B.3 experiments turned the Ripon lineage into an all-metal naval aircraft with watertight compartments and integral fuel storage.