Boulton & Paul P.64 Mailplane

Manufacturer: Boulton & Paul Ltd
Designer: J D North
First flight: March 1933
Retired: October 1933
Number built: 1
Developed into: Boulton Paul P.71A

The Boulton & Paul P.64 Mailplane also known as the Mail-Carrier was a 1930s British twin-engined all-metal biplane transport aircraft designed for Imperial Airways and built by Boulton & Paul Ltd.

Development

The airline had a requirement, which was translated into Air Ministry specification 21/28, for a mailplane to carry a 1,000 lb (454 kg) payload on a 1,000 mile (1,609 km) leg at a reasonable speed. Boulton & Paul designed and constructed the prototype P.64 Mailplane to address these requirements. The aircraft (registered G-ABYK) first flew in March 1933 at the company Norwich. It was not a success, deemed to be expensive and unsatisfactory. It was destroyed during trials at Martlesham Heath when it struck the ground during an unexplained dive on 21 October 1933.

The company then addressed the specification's requirements with a new design transport aircraft which was lighter, slimmer and longer (the Boulton Paul P.71A).

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: 3 (2 pilots plus navigator or radio operator)
Length: 42 ft 6 in (12.95 m)
Wingspan: 54 ft 0 in (16.46 m)
Height: 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m)
Wing area: 756 sq ft ()
Empty weight: 7,008 lb (3,180 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 10,500 lb (4,760 kg)
Powerplant: 2 x— Bristol Pegasus I.M2 radial engine, 555 hp (415 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 150 knots (172 mph, 275 km/h) : 185 mph at 5,000 ft
Range: 1,250 mi (2,010 km)
Service ceiling: 22,500 ft ()
Rate of climb: 1,400 ft/min ()

Related development

Boulton Paul P.71A

Bibliography

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10014 X.

Boulton & Paul Mailplane Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia