BA Swallow - Slab-sided floater

The British Aircraft (BA) Swallow originated in Germany in 1927 as the Klemm L.25, a tandem two-seat, low-wing, all-wood monoplane. Klemm first exported to Britain in March 1929 and started a small "flood."

- GEOFF JONES

Over the next four years, 27 examples followed with Salmson radial engines. The large 42-foot 8 1/2-inch wingspan dictated that the L.25 had folding wings for practical hangarage. Two German examples were fitted with the British Pobjoy R 75 horsepower radial engine, the catalyst for the formation of the British Klemm Aeroplane Co. Ltd. at Hanworth Airfield near London.