- Design and development
- Specifications
- References Citations Cited sources
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}| name=Cupid | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=Touring and training aircraft | national origin=United Kingdom | manufacturer=British Aircraft Manufacturing Company | designer=George Handasyde | first flight=1935 | introduced= | retired= | status= | primary user= | number built=1 | developed from= | variants with their own articles=
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The British Aircraft Cupid was a two-seat, single-engined monoplane, a smaller version of the B.A. Eagle designed for touring and training. Only one was built. Design and developmentThe first independent design of the British Aircraft Manufacturing Company, previously known as the British Klemm Aeroplane Company and usually referred to as British Aircraft or B.A., was the B.A. Eagle. This sold well, and B.A. followed it up with a similar small single-engined monoplane, the B.A. III Cupid.[1] Whereas the Eagle was aimed at the sporting and racing market, the Cupid targeted the touring and club training roles. Like the Eagle, the Cupid was designed by G.H. Handasyde.[2] The Cupid was a low-wing wooden aircraft, powered by a 130 hp (97 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major inverted inline engine. It had side-by-side seating with dual controls, under a multi-piece canopy. The coupé top could be removed for open-cockpit flying. Unlike the Eagle, the Cupid had a fixed undercarriage with cantilever legs that were enclosed in fairings which partly covered the wheels. Its wings folded for storage. Partly because of the fixed undercarriage, the Cupid was about 13 mph slower than the Eagle on the same power. It was fully aerobatic.[2] The Cupid first flew in 1935 and was liked by those who flew it. Finally only one, registered G-ADLR,[3] was built. Owned by Charles Best, it was flown in the 1935 King's Cup Jubilee Race by John Armour, then equerry to the Prince of Wales, but retired. The following year it was sold to South Africa, though it was never registered there.[2] Specifications{{Aircraft specs
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|empty weight lb=1195
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|cruise speed mph=135
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|stall speed mph=45
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References{{commons category|British Aircraft Manufacturing}}Citations1. ^Flight 5 September 1935 p.245
2. ^1 2 {{harvnb|Ord-Hume|2000|pp=260–1}}
3. ^Registration documents for G-ADLR
Cited sources{{refbegin}}- {{cite book |title= British Light Aeroplanes|last=Ord-Hume|first=Arthur W.J.G.| year=2000|volume=|publisher=GMS Enterprises |location=Peterborough |isbn=978-1-870384-76-6|ref=harv}}
{{refend}}{{British Aircraft Manufacturing aircraft}} 5 : British civil aircraft 1930–1939|British Aircraft Manufacturing aircraft|Low-wing aircraft|Single-engined tractor aircraft|Aircraft first flown in 1935 |