Bantam

The British Aerial Transport (BAT) Bantam was a lightweight, single‑engine biplane introduced in 1922 as the company’s first post‑war design. Developed on the basis of wartime trainer experience, the Bantam featured a wooden frame with fabric covering, a 110‑hp Le Rhône rotary engine, and a simple two‑seat staggered cockpit layout. Its short wingspan of 28 ft and low wing loading gave it excellent maneuverability at low speeds, making it popular with flying clubs and military auxiliary units for elementary training and reconnaissance. Production numbers remained modest – only 68 airframes were completed before BAT shifted focus to larger transport aircraft in the late 1920s. Despite its brief commercial life, the Bantam demonstrated the viability of inexpensive sport and training aircraft in the interwar market, influencing later British light‑plane designs such as the de Havilland Moth series. The aircraft also contributed to the development of pilot proficiency standards that persisted through the 1930s, and several examples survived World War II, with two restored specimens displayed in aviation museums today. Its modest success proved that small manufacturers could compete in a niche market, and the Bantam remains a symbol of British ingenuity during the early days of civil aviation.