Boulton Paul Sidestrand
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| Sidestrand | |
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| Type | Bomber |
| Manufacturer | Boulton Paul |
| Designed by | H.A. Hughes |
| Maiden flight | 1926 |
| Introduced | 1928 |
| Retired | 1936 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 20 (four Sidestrands were converted into the Boulton Paul Overstrand) |
| Variants | Boulton Paul Overstrand |
The Boulton Paul P.29 Sidestrand was a twin-engine biplane medium bomber of the Royal Air Force. Named after a village on the Norfolk coast near Boulton & Paul's factory in Norwich, the Sidestrand first flew in 1926 and entered service in 1928. It remained in service until 1936, only ever equipping one squadron; No. 101 Squadron RAF. It was an agile and relatively fast aircraft that was capable of aerobatic manoeuvres such as loops, rolls and spins.
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[edit] Design and development
Only 20 Sidestrands were ever built. The first two, essentially prototypes, were designated the Sidestrand Mk I. Originally intended to be powered by two Napier Lion inline engines, the Mk I was eventually fitted with 425 hp (317 kW) Bristol Jupiter VI radial engines which also powered the first six production Sidestrands, designated the Sidestrand Mk II. The remaining 12 aircraft were powered by 460 hp (343 kW) Jupiter VIIFs and were designated the Sidestrand Mk III. The six Mk IIs were also re-engined to bring them up to the Mk III specification.
The Sidestrand had three open defensive gun positions; nose, dorsal and ventral. The crew usually consisted of three personnel; pilot, nose gunner and a single gunner for the dorsal or ventral positions, the choice depending on where each individual plane was intended to fly in a formation. Armament for each position was a single .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun. The Sidestrand's bombload was limited to 1,050 lb (476 kg) which did not compare favourably with its contemporaries such as the Martin B-10.
[edit] Operational history
Deliveries to the newly re-formed No. 101 Squadron at Bircham Newton began in 1928, the first batch of six aircraft being the Sidestrand Mk II with ungeared Bristol Jupiter VI engines. These were followed by nine of the Sidestrand Mk III variants with geared Jupiter VIII Fs, and the final three production aircraft were replacement Mk IIs. The squadron then moved to RAF Andover in 1929.
The Sidestrand inherited the good manoeuvrability of the Boulton Paul P. 7 Bourges, but despite proving to be an excellent aircraft for bombing and gunnery, only No. 101 Squadron was equipped. In the early 1930s a Sidestrand Mk III was fitted with Bristol Pegasus IM3 engines. This was intended to become the Sidestrand Mk IV, but eventually became the prototype for the redeveloped Boulton Paul Overstrand which would begin replacing the Sidestrand in service in 1936. Four Sidestrands were eventually converted to Overstrand standard and essentially are considered Overstrands.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (Mk III)
Data from[citation needed]
General characteristics
- Crew: three or four (pilot and 2-3 gunners)
- Length: 46 ft (14.02 m)
- Wingspan: 71 ft 11 in (21.92 m)
- Height: 14 ft 10 in (4.52 m)
- Wing area: 979 ft² (91 m²)
- Empty weight: 6,000 lb (2,726 kg)
- Loaded weight: 10,179 lb (4,627 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Bristol Jupiter 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 460 hp (343 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 140 mph (122 knots , 225 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
- Range: 500 miles (435 nm, 805 km)
- Service ceiling 24,000 ft (7,300 m)
- Rate of climb: 15,000 ft in 19 minutes (4,572 m)
- Wing loading: 10.4 lb/ft² (50.8 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.09 hp/lb (148 W/kg)
Armament
- Guns: 3 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns in nose, dorsal and ventral gun positions
- Bombs: 1,050 lb (476 kg) total
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Brew, Alec. Boulton Paul Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1993. ISBN 0-85177-860-7.
- Winchester, Jim. Bombers of the 20th Century. London: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-84037-386-5.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
Related development Boulton Paul Overstrand
Related lists
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