Q&A · 4:04:54-4:05:22

Why naval reconnaissance requirements shaped the Blackburn Blackburn

The Blackburn Blackburn and Avro Bison acquired their ungainly forms primarily because observers needed a large working space for charts and reconnaissance tasks.

Aircraft Design Avro Bison Blackburn Blackburn Fleet Air Arm Naval Reconnaissance

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Question

Were the Blackburn Blackburn and Avro Bison shaped mainly by their mission or by their engines?

Short answer

Mainly by the mission, especially the need for an observer's chart-working space.

Notes

The Avro Bison and Blackburn Blackburn needed enough room for a full map to be spread out inside the aircraft. That working-space requirement accounts for their large, awkward appearance. Their shape is attributed directly to the mission, rather than an engine choice.