BLACKBURN B-20
- The Blackburn B-20 was designed by Major J D Rennie to meet the requirements
of Specification R.l/36 for a reconnaissance flying-boat, a unique feature
of the design being a retractable planing bottom that formed part of the
hull when retracted, and was used in association with retractable wing-tip
floats to obtain adequate propeller clearance on the water. Powered by
two 1,720 hp Vulture X engines, the Blackburn B-20 was designed to have
two 0.303-in (7.7-mm) guns in the nose, two in a dorsal turret and four
in a tail turret, and to carry four 500-lb (227-kg) bombs in wing cells.
The proto-type (V8914) was ready to fly by the end of March 1940 but was
lost on April 7, within a few days of the first flight, probably as a
result of aileron flutter.
