Bristol Sycamore

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Type 171 Sycamore
Type Rescue and Anti-Submarine Helicopter
Manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company
Designed by Raoul Hafner
Maiden flight 27 July 1947
Introduced 1953
Primary users Royal Air Force
Royal Australian Navy
German Army
Produced 1947 - 1955
Number built 180

The Bristol Type 171 Sycamore was the first British designed helicopter to fly and also the first to serve with the Royal Air Force. Created by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, it was used for search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare.

Contents

[edit] History

Bristol set up its Helicopter Department in after the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944, when engineers from the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment at Beaulieu became available. The AFEE had been working on the development of helicopter designs under helicopter pioneer Raoul Hafner, but the success of Horsa and Hamilcar gliders during Operation Overlord led to helicopter research being given a priority at AFEE.

The design of the Sycamore commenced in June 1944, and extended over more than two years, with especial emphasis being given to the endurance of the mechanical components. The maiden flight took place on 27 July 1947, with the prototype VL958 powered by a 450 hp Pratt and Whitney Wasp Junior (there being no suitable engine in the Bristol range). The prototype Sycamore Mk.2 was completed in the summer of 1948, powered by a 550 hp Alvis Leonides; this became the standard engine for all subsequent Sycamore production.

Versions of the Sycamore up to and including the Mk.3A kept to the standard two-seat aircraft layout of having the pilot in the left-hand seat and co-pilot in the right. The main production, the Mk.4, switched to the American standard practice of having the pilot's seat on the right. There were also a number of other developments from earlier versions, such as a four-door design, that were standardized for the Mk.4. This version entered RAF service as the H.R.14.

Civil versions did not use the name Sycamore, and were known simply as Bristol Type 171.

Main Gearbox of the Bristol 171 Sycamore as displayed in the Deutsches Museum in Munich (Germany)
Main Gearbox of the Bristol 171 Sycamore as displayed in the Deutsches Museum in Munich (Germany)

[edit] Military service

The Sycamore H.R.14 entered service with 275 Squadron of the RAF in April 1953, and went on to serve with nine squadrons in total. It was used during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) for deploying Army foot patrols into the jungle.

A total of 50 Sycamores were delivered to the German Federal Government, and three to the Belgian Government.

The Sycamore also has the distinction of being the second helicopter type to be used by the Australian Defence Forces, when seven were delivered to the Royal Australian Navy.

[edit] Variants

Variant and number produced

[edit] Type 171

  • Mk 1 : Prototype; only 2 built.
  • Mk 2 : Second prototype; only 1 built.
  • Mk 3 : Production model with five-seats in a widened fuselages and a shortened nose to improve visibility. 15 built.
  • Mk 3A : Civilian version with additional freight hold, 2 built for BEA.
  • Mk 4 : The main production model and the military version called Sycamore with a more powerful engine.

[edit] Sycamore

  • Sycamore HC10 : (=Mk.3) 1 built for evaluation by the Army Air Corps as an air ambulance.
  • Sycamore HC11 : (=Mk.3) 4 built for evaluation by the Army Air Corps, as communications aircraft.
  • Sycamore HR12 : (=Mk.3A) 4 built for the RAF for evaluation as search and rescue aircraft.
  • Sycamore HR13 : (=Mk.3A) 2 built with rescue winches for the RAF for evaluation as search and rescue aircraft.
  • Sycamore HR14 : (=Mk.4) 85 built for the RAF, as search and rescue aircraft.
  • Sycamore Mk 14  : 3 built for the Belgian Air Force, for use in the Belgian Congo.
  • Sycamore Mk 50  : 3 built for the Royal Australian Navy, for search and rescue, and plane guard duties.
  • Sycamore HC51 : 7 built for the Royal Australian Navy, for search and rescue, and plane guard duties.
  • Sycamore Mk 52 : 50 built for the German Army and Navy.

[edit] Civil Operators

[edit] Military Operators

[edit] Specifications (Mk.4 / H.R.14)

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two
  • Capacity: accommodation for three passengers
  • Payload: 1000 lb (454 kg)
  • Length: 61 ft 1¼ in (18.62 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 48 ft 7 in (14.8 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 10.6 in (4.23 m)
  • Empty weight: 3,810 lb (1,728 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 5,600 lb (2,540 kg)
  • Powerplant:Alvis Leonides piston, 550 hp (410 kW)

Performance

[edit] External links

[edit] References

    • Bowyer, Chaz. The Encyclopedia of British Military Aircraft. Bison Books Limited. ISBN 0-86124-258-0. 
    • Barnes, C. H. (1964). Bristol aircraft since 1910. Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-823-2. 
    • Bridgman, Leonard, ed. Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft 1951-1952. London: Samson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd 1951.

    [edit] Related content

     

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    Designation sequence

     

     

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