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Army Balloon Factory Beta II

The Beta II was rebuilt from the smaller Beta I in 1912.

Length : 33 m

Capacity : 1400 m3

Engine : Clerget 50 hp driving a pair of four-bladed propellors

It made many successful flights. It participated in the 1912 Army manoeuvres.

In 1913 it experimented with aerial photography and machine gun armament.

Beta II moored to a portable mast at Farnborough

Used by the RNAS in 1914 it was indicated as HMA No.17 and based in the winter 1914/1915 at Firminy, near Dunkirk and used for artillery spotting.

It was taken out of service in 1916.

ABF built also airship “Delta” and “Gamma”

Literature :

They fought for the sky page 55