Special Hobby 72356 Boulton-Paul Balliol "Civilian and Foreign Users"

The Boulton Paul Balliol was a British low-wing metal trainer. The drive in the basic version was provided by a single Rolls-Royce Merlin 35 engine with 1,245 HP. The prototype flight took place in 1947. In total, about 230 examples of this aircraft were built. The machine did not have permanent weapons.

The Boulton Paul Balliol was created in response to the demand reported by the RAF for a modern and universal training plane, intended to replace the existing machines of this type in the line. The RAF also stipulated in the specification that the new machine was to be powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Mamba engine. However, due to problems in the production of this engine, Bristol Mercury engines were used on prototypes, and finally the proven ones in serial copies: Rolls-Royce Merlin. Only two development versions of this aircraft were made. The first, the T.Mk.2, was the most widely produced serial version. The second, i.e. the T.Mk.21, had foldable wings and was adapted to be based on aircraft carriers. The life of the Boulton Paul Balliol machines in the line was relatively short, as in the mid-1950s it was replaced by school versions of de Havilland Vampire planes. The only receipt of Boulton Paul Balliol machines was Sri Lanka.