Boulton Paul Bobolink
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| P.3 Bobolink | |
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| Type | Single-seat Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Boulton & Paul Ltd |
| Maiden flight | 1918 |
| Status | Prototype |
| Number built | 1 |
The Boulton & Paul P.3 Bobolink was a World War I British single-engined single-seat fighter aircraft. It was built by Boulton & Paul Ltd.
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[edit] Development
The Bobolink was the first aeroplane designed by Boulton & Paul Limited. The company was a manufacturer of wooden buildings but during World War I it built aircraft under ministry contracts. Aircraft built included the Sopwith 1½ Strutter and Sopwith Camel.
The British Air Ministry requested proposals to replace the Sopwith Camel. Boulton & Paul designed and constructed the Bobolink and entered it in that competition. The prototype first flew in March 1918. An unusual feature of the aircraft was its ability to jettison the main fuel tank in the event of an inflight fire. It did not win the Camel replacement competition, which was won by the Sopwith Snipe, and only the one prototype was produced.
[edit] Specifications
General characteristics
- Length: 20 ft 0 in (6.10 m)
- Wingspan: 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
- Height: 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
- Wing area: 266 ft² (24.71 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,226 lb (557 kg)
- Loaded weight: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,992 lb (904 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Bentley BR2 rotary piston, 230 hp (172 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 125 mph (201 km/h)
- Service ceiling 19,500 ft (5945 m)
Armament
- 2× 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
[edit] References
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
[edit] External links
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