Canadian Airplanes: Blackburn F.2 Lincock Mk. II

Blackburn F.2 Lincock Mk. II

(Canadian Forces Photo)

Blackburn F.2 Lincock Mk. II.  In 1928 Blackburn designed and built a private venture lightweight biplane fighter powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC engine.  The Blackburn F.2 Lincock was of wooden construction and first appeared in May 1928.  It performed well in demonstrations but failed to gain any orders.  The Canadian government showed an interest in the design, and a metal construction variant (the Lincock II) was built.  It was tested in Canada at Camp Borden in 1930 where there was interest in using the Lincock as an advanced trainer, but the type was not ordered.  It was later used to perform public aerobatic displays in 1933 and 1934.  One survives in the Streetlife Museum Hull in the UK.

Blackburn F.2 Lincock Mk. I, Reg No. G-EBVO as initially flown in May 1928.  This first silver-painted prototype was of all-wood construction and was first shown publicly on 15th May 1928.

(BAe Systems Photo)

Blackburn F.2 Lincock Mk. II at Brough, England, in October 1928.  The Blackburn F2A Lincock II featured a split undercarriage, with the main legs mounted further aft than those of the Lincock I.  The Blackburn Lincock I had attracted Canadian interest and who required an all-metal design and Blackburn consequently built the Blackburn Lincock II, complete with a 255 hp Lynx IV engine.  It was shipped to Canada in February 1930, where it was first flown at Downsview, Ontario on 21st March 1930. It was later tested by the Royal Canadian Air Force in May and June 1930, although despite favourable pilots’ reports, no orders were forthcoming.  The Blackburn Lincock II was shipped back to the UK and modified with a Lynx Major engine, together with a cross-axle undercarriage (thereby resembling a Blackburn Lincock III).

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