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Here are some summary notes on the Scottish Company Beardmore who's aircraft manufacturing activities began in 1913 and ended in the 1920's.
Beardmore-D.F.W. Round Britain Racer
In 1913 William Beardmore and Company took over the building rights in Britain for the German Deutsche Flugzeug Werke (D.F.W). Based on two supplied aircraft, Beardmore began work on a machine to compete in the Round Britain Air Races but the war started and the project halted.
Beardmore W.B.1
The Beardmore W.B.1 was a single-engine bomber biplane of World War I developed to Admiralty Contract A.S.7123.
Beardmore W.B.1a
This was a British two-seater long-distance bomber biplane project from World War I developed by the firm.
Beardmore W.B.II
Also known as the Beardmore WB2 this was a British fighter monoplane prototype from 1917. A two-seat fighter of wooden construction built as a private venture. Only one built.
Beardmore W.B.IIa Adriatic
A modified version of the WB.II machine fitted with a Beardmore Adriatic engine. It was a fighter reconnaissance biplane project.
Beardmore W.B.IIb
Project for a fast mailplane based on an earlier proposed fighter reconnaissance biplane in 1916. Two built.
Beardmore W.B.III
British single-seat carrier-based fighter biplane project from World War I. It was also known as the Sopwith-Beardmore S.B.3d with 100 completed.
Beardmore W.B.IV
British single-engine biplane ship-based fighter of World War I , only one was completed.
Beardmore W.B.V
Prototype British single-engine shipborne biplane fighter with two being completed. It was to be equipped with a 37mm Puteux cannon. Flew before the W.B.IV.
Beardmore W.B.VI (1)
The W.B.VI designations were used for a series of folding wing design aircraft between 1918-1919, in a whole range of different sizes. See W.B.IVa to IVd below.
Beardmore W.B.VIa
The W.B.VIa was a project for a six-seat design to be powered by a Galloway Atlantic. Although construction was begun, this large single engine biplane was never completed.
Beardmore W.B.VIb
A project for a two-seat design with folding wings which was not related at all to the other W.B.II designs. It dated from 1918-1919.
Beardmore W.B.VIc
1919 project for a small single-seat design with a small engine Later used as the basis for the 1924 W.B.XXIV light aeroplane.
Beardmore W.B.VId
1919 project for a six-seater to be powered by a pair of B.H.P. engines mounted in the fuselage.
Beardmore W.B.VI (2)
The W.B.VI designation was re-used for a project for a biplane torpedo bomber which resembled the Sopwith Cuckoo.
Beardmore W.B.VII
The W.B.VII designation was used for an unbuilt project for a shipborne scout aircraft.
Beardmore W.B.VIII
An ambitious design for a 24 passenger aeroplane with three Galloway Atlantic engines. Remained a project only.
Beardmore W.B.IX
Amphibian flying boat project, which could carry up to ten passengers. It was powered by four Beardmore engines fitted inside the hull and driving two tractor airscrews.
Beardmore W.B.X
This design has the distinction of being one of the first all-metal aeroplaned to be be built in Britain, only one built.
Beardmore W.B.XXIV (Wee Bee I)
Single-engined tourer monoplane that was built specifically for the Lympne 1924 light aeroplane competition.Only one was built which ended up with its designer, W.S Shackleton, in Australia.
Beardmore W.B.XXVI
Prototype British two-seat fighter of the 1920s. A single engined biplane, one example was built.
Beardmore Inflexible
Three-engined all-metal prototype bomber and research aircraft.
Beardmore BeRo.2 Inverness
All-metal monoplane flying boat of the 1920s. Two were ordered, one completed by Rohrbach's Danish subsidiary and the second by the British licensees, William Beardmore and Company.
-----------------------------------------------
Airships ordered from Beardmore
No 24 (R24)
No 27 (R27)
No 28 (R28)
R32 (airship)
R34 (airship)
R36 (airship) G-FAAF
R40 (airship)
plus Spherical & Kite balloons
-----------------------------------------------
Other manufacturers aircraft built by Beardmore
Sopwith Pup
Sopwith 2F-1 Camel
Sopwith F.S.1 Camel Seaplane
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2C
Wight Seaplane
Nieuport XII
Handley Page V/1500
Sources:
The British Bomber since 1912 by Peter Lewis (Putnam 1980) ISBN 0370302656.
British Flying Boats by Peter London (Sutton Publishing, 2003) ISBN 0750926953.
The British Bomber since 1912 by Francis K Mason (Putnam 1994) ISBN 0851778615.
Beardmore Aviation 1913 - 1930 by Charles MacKay (A.MacKay 2012) ISBN 9780957344303.
Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I by Michael JH Taylor (Studio Editions 1990) ISBN 1851703470.
British Flight Testing by Tim Mason (Putnam 1993) ISBN 0851778577.
NB: The book from Charles MacKay was especially useful in filling in the gaps and clearing the mystery of the W.B.VI designations. A very worthwhile addition to my library!
Beardmore-D.F.W. Round Britain Racer
In 1913 William Beardmore and Company took over the building rights in Britain for the German Deutsche Flugzeug Werke (D.F.W). Based on two supplied aircraft, Beardmore began work on a machine to compete in the Round Britain Air Races but the war started and the project halted.
Beardmore W.B.1
The Beardmore W.B.1 was a single-engine bomber biplane of World War I developed to Admiralty Contract A.S.7123.
Beardmore W.B.1a
This was a British two-seater long-distance bomber biplane project from World War I developed by the firm.
Beardmore W.B.II
Also known as the Beardmore WB2 this was a British fighter monoplane prototype from 1917. A two-seat fighter of wooden construction built as a private venture. Only one built.
Beardmore W.B.IIa Adriatic
A modified version of the WB.II machine fitted with a Beardmore Adriatic engine. It was a fighter reconnaissance biplane project.
Beardmore W.B.IIb
Project for a fast mailplane based on an earlier proposed fighter reconnaissance biplane in 1916. Two built.
Beardmore W.B.III
British single-seat carrier-based fighter biplane project from World War I. It was also known as the Sopwith-Beardmore S.B.3d with 100 completed.
Beardmore W.B.IV
British single-engine biplane ship-based fighter of World War I , only one was completed.
Beardmore W.B.V
Prototype British single-engine shipborne biplane fighter with two being completed. It was to be equipped with a 37mm Puteux cannon. Flew before the W.B.IV.
Beardmore W.B.VI (1)
The W.B.VI designations were used for a series of folding wing design aircraft between 1918-1919, in a whole range of different sizes. See W.B.IVa to IVd below.
Beardmore W.B.VIa
The W.B.VIa was a project for a six-seat design to be powered by a Galloway Atlantic. Although construction was begun, this large single engine biplane was never completed.
Beardmore W.B.VIb
A project for a two-seat design with folding wings which was not related at all to the other W.B.II designs. It dated from 1918-1919.
Beardmore W.B.VIc
1919 project for a small single-seat design with a small engine Later used as the basis for the 1924 W.B.XXIV light aeroplane.
Beardmore W.B.VId
1919 project for a six-seater to be powered by a pair of B.H.P. engines mounted in the fuselage.
Beardmore W.B.VI (2)
The W.B.VI designation was re-used for a project for a biplane torpedo bomber which resembled the Sopwith Cuckoo.
Beardmore W.B.VII
The W.B.VII designation was used for an unbuilt project for a shipborne scout aircraft.
Beardmore W.B.VIII
An ambitious design for a 24 passenger aeroplane with three Galloway Atlantic engines. Remained a project only.
Beardmore W.B.IX
Amphibian flying boat project, which could carry up to ten passengers. It was powered by four Beardmore engines fitted inside the hull and driving two tractor airscrews.
Beardmore W.B.X
This design has the distinction of being one of the first all-metal aeroplaned to be be built in Britain, only one built.
Beardmore W.B.XXIV (Wee Bee I)
Single-engined tourer monoplane that was built specifically for the Lympne 1924 light aeroplane competition.Only one was built which ended up with its designer, W.S Shackleton, in Australia.
Beardmore W.B.XXVI
Prototype British two-seat fighter of the 1920s. A single engined biplane, one example was built.
Beardmore Inflexible
Three-engined all-metal prototype bomber and research aircraft.
Beardmore BeRo.2 Inverness
All-metal monoplane flying boat of the 1920s. Two were ordered, one completed by Rohrbach's Danish subsidiary and the second by the British licensees, William Beardmore and Company.
-----------------------------------------------
Airships ordered from Beardmore
No 24 (R24)
No 27 (R27)
No 28 (R28)
R32 (airship)
R34 (airship)
R36 (airship) G-FAAF
R40 (airship)
plus Spherical & Kite balloons
-----------------------------------------------
Other manufacturers aircraft built by Beardmore
Sopwith Pup
Sopwith 2F-1 Camel
Sopwith F.S.1 Camel Seaplane
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2C
Wight Seaplane
Nieuport XII
Handley Page V/1500
Sources:
The British Bomber since 1912 by Peter Lewis (Putnam 1980) ISBN 0370302656.
British Flying Boats by Peter London (Sutton Publishing, 2003) ISBN 0750926953.
The British Bomber since 1912 by Francis K Mason (Putnam 1994) ISBN 0851778615.
Beardmore Aviation 1913 - 1930 by Charles MacKay (A.MacKay 2012) ISBN 9780957344303.
Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I by Michael JH Taylor (Studio Editions 1990) ISBN 1851703470.
British Flight Testing by Tim Mason (Putnam 1993) ISBN 0851778577.
NB: The book from Charles MacKay was especially useful in filling in the gaps and clearing the mystery of the W.B.VI designations. A very worthwhile addition to my library!
