Boulton Paul Sea Balliol

This Boulton Paul Sea Balliol was on display at RAF Cosford.

Boulton Paul Sea Balliol

The Boulton Paul Balliol and Sea Balliol are monoplane military advanced trainer aircraft built for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA) by Boulton Paul Aircraft.

Boulton Paul Sea Balliol

Developed in the late 1940s, the Balliol was designed to replace the North American Harvard trainer. It used the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. The Sea Balliol was a naval version for deck landing training.

This particular Balliol was one of a batch of 20 that were ordered by the Royal Navy in 1950. Consequently it is fitted with naval features such as an arrester hook that the RAF aircraft did not have. The engine fitted to the aircraft is a later variant of the famous Rolls Royce Merlin.

Balliols only lasted in service for a few years before being stored. This example was later reactived for trials work which allowed it to be preserved.

WL732 is the only original and complete Balliol preserved in the UK.