Blackburn Firebrand and Firecrest

The Firebrand was an interesting aircraft which was designed as a single-seat heavy naval fighter but through development became a torpedo fighter carrying a single externally slung Mk.XII torpedo. It started life powered by a Napier Sabre in-line engine but this proved to be unreliable. Its aerodynamics also gave cause for concern and a number of different versions and extended flight trials took place until the Bristol Centaurus radial engine was fitted and as the Mark V it eventually entered limited naval squadron service, But by then World War 2 had ended and the need no longer existed. It cannot be denied that the Firebrand was a formidable-looking machine but in its radial engined version the essential characteristic of a good forward view for deck landings was absent and it therefore passed into obscurity quickly and became known as a substantial failure. The author, Tony Buttler, has written a very full and comprehensive account of this aircraft and has also added details of the Blackburn Firecrest which was put forward as a development of the basic design. There are many photographs of all Firebrand aircraft. Drawings and 1:72nd scale plans are by Tim Brown