Bristol Superfreighter
| Bristol Type 170 Series 32 Superfreighter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A Bristol Superfreighter of Silver City Airways at Southampton Airport in 1954 | |
| Role | Cargo aircraft Passenger aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Bristol Aeroplane Company |
| First flight | 16 January 1953 |
| Introduction | 1953 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Silver City Airways British United Air Ferries British United Airways |
| Variants | Bristol Freighter |
The Bristol Type 170 Superfreighter Mk 32 was a larger, stretched version of the Bristol Freighter designed for Silver City Airways for use on the short air ferry routes to France.
Production and operation
The first Superfreighters, with a longer - 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m) - hold than the earlier Mark 31, were delivered to Silver City Airways in spring 1953 and were used on cross-channel services to Europe. One example was converted to a 60-seat all-passenger "Super Wayfarer".[1]
The Mark 32 could carry 20 passengers instead of the 12 of the smaller Mark 31 Freighter, and three cars instead of two in its air ferry role.[2]
The Superfreighter was distinguishable from the earlier Freighter by having a longer nose, in which the extra car was carried, and a fin fillet as well as rounded wingtips.
Operators
- Air Charter
- Air Ferry
- British Air Ferries (BAF)
- British United Air Ferries (BUAF)
- Channel Air Bridge
- Compagnie Air Transport
- Lambair
- Midland Air Cargo
- SABENA
- Silver City Airways
Specifications (Freighter Mk 32)
Data from Macdonald Aircraft Handbook.[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 73 ft 4 in (22.4 m)
- Wingspan: 108 ft 0 in (32.92 m)
- Height: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
- Wing area: 1487 ft2 (138.13 m2)
- Empty weight: 29,950 lb (13,404 kg)
- Gross weight: 44,000 lb (19,958 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Hercules 734 14-cylinder sleeve-valve radial piston engine, 1,980 hp (1,476 kW) each each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 225 mph (362 km/h)
- Range: 820 miles (1,320 km)
- Service ceiling: 24,500 ft (7,470 m)
References
- Notes
- ↑ Jackson, 1973, p. 257
- ↑ "British Air Ferry Takes Cars Across English Channel." Popular Mechanics, August 1954, p. 94
- ↑ Green 1965, p. 188.
- Bibliography
- Green, William. Macdonald Aircraft Handbook. London. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1964.
- Jackson, A.J.. British Civil Aircraft since 1919. Putnam & Company Ltd. 1973. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
- "Everyday Airlift: Silver City's Channel Ferry", Flight, 21 August 1953: 226–227
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bristol Superfreighter. |
- A picture of a BUAF Superfreighter at Lydd Ferryfield.
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