Bristol Braemar
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| Bristol Types 24 and 25 Braemar | |
|---|---|
| Type | Heavy bomber |
| Manufacturer | Bristol Aeroplane Company |
| Designed by | Frank Barnwell |
| Maiden flight | 1918-08-13 |
| Number built | 2 |
The Bristol Braemar was a heavy bomber developed at the end of the First World War for the Royal Air Force but never entering service.
Contents |
[edit] Development
The prototype Braemar was developed in response to the establishment of the Independent Air Force in October 1917, as a bomber capable of the long-range bombing of Berlin if necessary. A large triplane, it had internal stowage for up to six 250lb bombs.
The initial design featured a unique engine installation with a central engine room housing all four engines. The engines were to be geared in pairs and power taken from the engines to the four propellers by power shafts. This design was abandoned early in development, and both the completed Braemar's had a conventional engine installation, with the engines in inline tandem pairs, driving pusher and tractor propellers. However the engine-room design was resurrected later in the Braemar's development life, for the proposed steam-powered Tramp.
The first prototype Braemar flew on 13 August 1917, with four Siddeley Puma engines of 230 hp. The prototype showed generally good performance with a top speed of 106 mph, but there were complaints from the test pilots about the view from the cockpit and the controls, and so the next aircraft produced was an improved version designated Braemar Mk.II. The Mk.II had considerably more power, in its four Liberty L-12 engines of 400 hp, which gave it an improved speed of 125 mph.
The Braemar never entered service with the RAF, and the two prototypes were the only Braemar's built. The Braemar design was subsequently developed as the Pullman passenger aircraft.
[edit] Specifications (Braemar Mk.II)
General characteristics
- Crew: 6 - two pilots, wireless operator, engineer and two gunners
- Length: 51 ft 6 in (15.73 m)
- Wingspan: 81 ft 8 in (24.89 m)
- Height: 20 ft (6.10 m)
- Wing area: 1905 ft² (177 m²)
- Empty weight: 10 650 lb (4840 kg)
- Loaded weight: 18 000 lb (8170 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Liberty L-12 inline engines, 400 hp (300 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 125 mph (200 km/h)
- Range: more than 1000 mi ()
- Service ceiling: 17 000 ft (5100 m)
- Wing loading: 9.45 lb/ft² (46.2 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.08 hp/lb (150 W/kg)
Armament
- Guns: 2× 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns
- Bombs: 1500 lb (680 kg)
[edit] References
- Barnes C.H. (1964). Bristol Aircraft Since 1910. Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-370-00015-3.
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