Bristol Type 143

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The Bristol Type 143 was a twin-engined monoplane designed by Frank Barnwell of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, with advanced features for its time (stressed skin, flaps, retractable undercarriage).

Like the better known Type 142 (built for Lord Rothermere, the owner of the Daily Mail, as "Britain First"), the Type 143 arose from the unbuilt Bristol Type 135 design for a civil twin-engine cabin monoplane.

Fitted with the new sleeve-valved and smaller diameter Bristol Aquila, the Type 143 was expected to offer some performance advantages over the Bristol Mercury-engined Type 142 (for example, allowing 8 passengers rather than the 6 of the Type 142). Only one example was built.

Development Summary

Type 135 2xBristol Aquila engines. Design only July 1933. None built.

Type 142 2xBristol Mercury engines. One ordered March 1934, and built: Britain First. Allotted civil registration G-ADCZ but unused. Flown 12 April 1935. To the RAF and allotted R-12 experimental June 1935, until taken on charge and allotted K7557 July 1935.

Type 143 2xBristol Aquila engines. Test bed. One only built. Allotted G-ADEK March 1935, flown January 1936 and to the RAF as R-14 but retained at Bristol Filton.

Type 142M Bristol Blenheim I 2xBristol Mercury VIII. Proposed July 1935. Design August 1935 Air Ministry Spec 28/35. Air Ministry production order 150 aircraft September 1935. First Type 142M Blenheim prototype: K7033 June 1936. First service delivery K7036 March 1937.

[edit] References

Bowyer, C. (1984). Bristol Blenheim. Ian Allen. ISBN 0-7110-1351-9.
Warner, G. (2005). The Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History. Crécy Publishing. ISBN 0-85979-101-7.