The British Aircraft Cupid was a two seat, single-engined monoplane

Monoplane

A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...

, a smaller version of the B.A. Eagle

British Aircraft Eagle

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 designed for touring and training

Flight training

Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills....

. Only one was built.

Design and development

The first independent design of the British Aircraft Manufacturing Company

British Aircraft Company

The British Aircraft Company was a British aircraft manufacturer based in Maidstone. It was founded by C H Lowe-Wylde and produced gliders and light aircraft during the 1930s.-Glider production:...

, 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. 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.

The Cupid was a low wing wooden aircraft, powered by a 130 hp (97 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major inverted in-line engine. It had side-by-side seating with tandem controls under a neat 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.

The Cupid first flew in 1935 and was liked by those who flew it. In the end, though, only one, registered G-ADLR, 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.

Specifications

Cited sources