Blackburn wasn't the most celebrated aircraft manufacturer but the Royal Navy elected to name this type the Blackburn, after the city. It was developed from the Blackburn Dart. The RN wanted a three-seat reconnaissance/gunnery observation plane and to make room for a wireless/navigator's station, the pilot was placed above the Napier Lion engine, giving him a good view but a lot of drag as well. This is the first prototype, converted to Mk II standard with a raised upper wing - the Mk I was much uglier still. Both the Mk I and Mk II did see operational service with the Fleet Air Arm. Photo from: Imperial War Museums

On display at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, National Air and Space Museum. This aircraft was originally built as an M-4 but later reconfigured as an M-2. The type was extensively used by Western Air Express to carry mail over the Contract Air Mail Route 4 (CAM-4) between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. The M-2 could carry up to 1,000 pounds of mail in its forward compartment.

previously NC1475