Bristol Type 101

The Bristol Type 101, was a British two-seat fighter prototype in the 1920s.

Type 101
Role Fighter
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company
Designer Capt. Frank Barnwell
First flight 8 August 1927
Number built 1

Development

Designed as a private venture, the 101 was of mixed construction. A single-bay, two-seat design, the fuselage was a plywood-covered box-girder spruce structure, the two-spar wings being of steel with fabric skinning. It was powered by the same engine as the Type 95 – a 450 hp (340 kW) Bristol Jupiter VI. Armament consisted of two synchronised .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns as well as a ring-mounted .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Gun at the rear.

Operational history

Cleaner and more compact than most aircraft in its class, the 101 displayed relatively high performance when first flown in 1927. However, it was rejected by the Air Ministry due to its wood construction, which was seen as out of date. No other buyers could be found and no more aircraft were produced. Continued as a private venture, it first flew at Filton on 8 August 1927, piloted by Cyril Uwins, registered G-EBOW. With the VIA powerplant, Uwins achieved second place in the 1928 King's Cup race at an average speed of 159.9 mph. Subsequently, used as a company hack and as a testbed for the 485 hp Bristol Mercury II nine-cylinder radial, it suffered wing centre section failure on 29 November 1929 while being subjected to engine overspeeding tests, the pilot, C. R. L. Shaw, bailing out successfully. This was the last wooden Bristol fighter built.[1]

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Length: 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m)
  • Wingspan: 33 ft 7 in (10.23 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.89 m)
  • Wing area: 360.00 sq ft (33.44 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,100 lb (953 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,540 lb (1,606 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Jupiter VI , 450 hp (336 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 160 mph (257 km/h, 140 kn)

Armament

References
  1. Mason, Francis K., "The British Fighter since 1912", Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1992, Library of Congress card number 92-63026, ISBN 1-55750-082-7, p. 192.
  • Green, William; Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Godalming, UK: Salamander Books.
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