The Blackburn was exceptionally slow, with a quoted top speed of 122 mph at 3,000 feet. It nevertheless carried enough standard fuel for about four hours and fifteen minutes aloft, with longer flights possible at maximum fuel load. That performance reflects a design centered on persistent observation rather than interception or strike speed. Oxygen equipment supported operations toward its roughly 13,000-foot ceiling, where greater altitude widened the crew's field of view.
Notable Point · 32:55-35:18
Slow speed was adequate for a long-endurance lookout
A top speed of 122 mph mattered less than more than four hours of endurance for an aircraft expected to spot, search, and warn.