• Source: Baynes Bat

The Baynes Bat (or sometimes Slingsby-Baynes Bat) was an experimental glider of the Second World War, designed by L. E. Baynes. It was used to test the tailless design that he had suggested as a means to convert tanks into temporary gliders so they could be flown into battle.




Design and development


In the late 1930s, armies were looking for a way to airlift heavy military units. There were then no cargo aircraft big enough to lift a tank, and even if such a large aircraft had been created it would have needed many special facilities. A solution which was explored during the Second World War was to tow tanks as gliders, and for this wings had to be added. Most designs were based on straight wings with extended empennage and stabilizers. The design of L.E. Baynes AFRAeS in 1941 was for a 100 ft wingspan "Carrier Wing Glider" consisting chiefly of a swept wing with vertical stabilizers on the wingtips.

A 1/3 scale prototype was built entirely of wood in 1943 by Slingsby Sailplanes at Kirkbymoorside, and the Baynes Bat made its first flight in July 1943 possibly at the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment at RAF Sherburn-in-Elmet or most likely at RAF Snaith a few miles away, where other AFEE projects where also being tested.
Snaith was a bomber station, so daytime testing was more possible than at Sherburn as it was also a fighter station with daytime operations and on grass runways where as Snaith had 3 long concrete runways and associated support facilities. Most of the test flights were piloted by Flight Lieutenant Robert Kronfeld.
Tests were successful, but the project was abandoned because a suitable tank was not then available and a decision had been made to develop gliders which could carry heavy equipment within their fuselages. The strategists were not convinced of the practicality of retrieving large numbers of Baynes Bats from the field, but in wartime this was not a critical factor.
The one Bat which had been built was the first tailless monoplane with flaps to be available for research and it was flown extensively by the Royal Aircraft Establishment to test the stability and control of tailless aircraft. The Bat was sold as surplus in October 1946 and entered on the British Gliding Association register in November 1947. The Bat was last seen in 1958, lying behind a hangar at Croydon Airport.




Operators


United Kingdom
Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment
Royal Aircraft Establishment




Specifications


Data from Aeroplane Monthly & Ellison 1971.General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 11 ft 4 in (3.46 m)
Wingspan: 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m)
Height: 4 ft 4.8 in (1.340 m)
Wing area: 160.0 sq ft (14.86 m2)
Aspect ratio: 7
Empty weight: 763 lb (346.1 kg)
Gross weight: 963 lb (436.8 kg)
Performance

Maximum speed: 120 mph (193 km/h, 104 kn)
Cruise speed: 80 mph (129 km/h, 70 kn)
Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
Wing loading: 6.0 lb/sq ft (29.3 kg/m2)




See also


Antonov A-40 - the Soviet "Flying Tank"
General Aircraft Hamilcar, a British glider introduced during the war to carry light tanks.
Tetrarch tank - a British tank light enough to be carried by air




Notes






References



The Baynes Bat

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Daftar pesawat eksperimental
• Daftar peraih medali pada Olimpiade Musim Panas 2020
• Baynes Bat
• L. E. Baynes
• Slingsby Aviation
• List of aircraft of the United Kingdom in World War II
• Winged tank
• Antonov A-40
• List of experimental aircraft
• Flying wing
• List of World War II military gliders
• List of aircraft of World War II