Beagle B.206

Beagle B.206

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle_B.206

Beagle B.206 / Basset

Role	Light Transport
Manufacturer	Beagle Aircraft Limited
First flight	15 August 1961
Introduced	1965
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Produced	1964–1969
Number built	85

The Beagle B.206 is a 1960s British two-seat twin-engined liaison and communication aircraft built by Beagle Aircraft Limited at Shoreham Airport and Rearsby Aerodrome.

Design and development

The design of a twin-engined light transport began in 1960 and the prototype registered "G-ARRM" (designated the B.206X) first flew from Shoreham Airport, West Sussex on 15 August 1961. The prototype aircraft was a five-seat all metal low-wing monoplane powered by two Continental flat-six engines.

The Beagle B.206X prototype at the Farnborough Show in 1961

The second prototype (designated B.206Y) was slightly larger with a larger span wing and seating for seven. Two aircraft were built for evaluation by the Ministry of Aviation at Boscombe Down and an order for twenty aircraft for the Royal Air Force followed.The RAF aircraft were named the Beagle Basset CC.1 and were built at Rearsby Aerodrome, Leicestershire.

A Series 2 aircraft with 340hp Continental turbocharged engines first flew on 23 June 1965. The Series 2 was also fitted with a large freight door. The aircraft was soon in demand with air taxi companies and as a light transport for companies. Two aircraft were delivered to the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia.

A Series 3 was developed with a raised rear fuselage to carry 10-passengers but only three were built. When the company needed the room at Rearsby to built the Beagle Pup, production of the B.206 ended with the 85th aircraft.

Operational history

The first deliveries to RAF communications squadrons was made in May 1965. The first civil ordered aircraft was also delivered in May 1965 to Rolls-Royce Limited at Hucknall. An unusual use for one of the first aircraft registered "G-ATHO" which was bought by the Maidenhead Organ Studios Limited for transporting electronic organs.

Accidents and incidents

May 2 1977 - Automotive engineer and General Motors Corporation executive Ed Cole was killed in a Beagle B.206 Series 2 registered N500KR, crashing while making a landing approach to Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA in bad weather.

1972? Basset CC Mk 1 (26 Sqn RAF Wyton) at RAF Valley. Aircraft refuelled with Avtur. Crashed on take off. Navigator killed. Pilot seriously hurt

Variants

Beagle B.206X: Prototype, 1 built.
Beagle B.206Y: Larger prototype, 1 built.
Beagle B.206Z: Pre-production, 2 built.
Beagle B.206R (Basset CC.1): Military version, 20 built.
Beagle B.206S: B.206 Series 2 prototype.
Beagle B.206 Series 1: Seven-seat civil production aircraft, 11 built.
Beagle B.206 Series 2: Higher-performance civil production aircraft, 47 built.
Beagle B.206 Series 3: 10-seat version not developed, 3 built.

Operators

Military operators

Syria

Syrian Air Force

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force

Planned

South Africa

South African Air Force ordered 18 aircraft for maritime use but the order was cancelled.

Civil operators

Australia

Royal Flying Doctor Service

United Kingdom

Maidenhead Organ Studios Limited

Specifications (B.206 Series 2)

Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919: Volume I

General characteristics

Length: 33ft 8in (10.26 m)
Wingspan: 45 ft 9½ in (13.96 m)
Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
Wing area: 214 ft² (19.88 m²)
Empty weight: 4,800 lb (2177 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 7,499 lb (3401 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Rolls Royce Continental GTSIO-520-C flat-six piston engine, 340 hp (254 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 258 mph (224 knots, 415 km/h)
Cruise speed: 218 mph (190 knots, 351 km/h)
Range: 1,620 mi (1,409 NM, 2608 km)
Service ceiling: 27,100 ft(8260 m)
Rate of climb: 1,340 ft/min (6.81 m/s)