Blackburn B2

The Blackburn B-2 was developed as a successor to the Bluebird IV trainer. It has a semi-monocoque all-metal fuselage, instead of metal and fabric, while retaining the side-by-side seating of the earlier aircraft.

The B2 served extensively in civilian flying schools. One of these was the North Sea Aerial and General Transport Co Ltd who were chosen by the Air Ministry as one of four firms to undertake RAF Reserve pilot training.

On the outbreak of WWII, the aircraft at Hanworth were moved to Brough, where the two training schools merged, becoming No.4 Elementary Flying Training School. The Brough school continued to be operated by Blackburn, with the aircraft remaining with civilian registrations, although they were repainted with wartime training markings with yellow fuselages, camouflaged wings and RAF roundels.

About this aircraft

Of the 42 aircraft built, only two B2s survived post war and were both used by the Brough Flying Club and then by North Sea Air Transport Ltd. The fuselage of one was for many years seen up a tree in an Essex scrapyard before being preserved at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum. This particular aircraft, G-AEBJ is now the only complete survivor and was owned by BAE Systems until transferred to the Collection in March 2022.

Specification