The Bristol Bullfinch was an experimental British military aircraft first flown in 1922. Variants were built as both parasol wingmonoplanes and biplanes, but both versions proved unsuccessful, and only the three prototypes were built.
Bullfinch
Bullfinch as single-seat monoplane (top) and as two-seat biplane
The Bullfinch was designed by Frank Barnwell, chief designer of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, as a parasol-wing monoplane single-seat fighter, which was convertible to a two-seat biplane, thus meeting the requirements of the Royal Air Force for both a single-seat interceptor fighter and a two-seat reconnaissance-fighter. The potential cost savings associated with this concept, which was planned to be powered by the Jupiter engine, the rights to which Bristol had just acquired from the bankrupt Cosmos Engineering, interested the Air Ministry, who wrote a specification (Specification 2/21) around Barnwell's proposed design, and ordered three prototypes in June 1921.[1]
The Bullfinch monoplane, or Type 52 Bullfinch Mk I, was a cantilever parasol monoplane with a welded steel tube fuselage. The wing was in two halves, joined at the aircraft centreline, with each half tapering from maximum thickness at half span to both the wing root and tips.[2] The wing was wooden on the prototypes, but was planned to be of metal construction for any subsequent production aircraft. To produce the two-seat fighter-reconnaissance version, the Type 53 Bullfinch Mk II, an extra fuselage bay was added aft of the pilot containing a cockpit for the observer, and a cantilever bottom wing attached which compensated for the shift in centre of gravity resulting from the weight of the observer and the lengthened fuselage.
The first prototype, a Type 52 monoplane, flew on 6 November 1922, with the second prototype, also a monoplane, flying in May 1923.[1] After first flying as a monoplane, the third prototype was converted to the biplane configuration, flying in that configuration on 17 March 1924. While the single-seater demonstrated reasonable performance, the two-seater was overweight, and proved incapable of carrying the required military load.[2] No further production occurred.
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January 01, 1970
bristol, bullfinch, experimental, british, military, aircraft, first, flown, 1922, variants, were, built, both, parasol, wing, monoplanes, biplanes, both, versions, proved, unsuccessful, only, three, prototypes, were, built, bullfinch, bullfinch, single, seat,. The Bristol Bullfinch was an experimental British military aircraft first flown in 1922 Variants were built as both parasol wing monoplanes and biplanes but both versions proved unsuccessful and only the three prototypes were built Bullfinch Bullfinch as single seat monoplane top and as two seat biplane Role Fighter Reconnaissance Manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company Designer Frank Barnwell First flight 6 November 1922 Number built 3 Contents 1 Development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications Bullfinch I 5 References 6 External linksDevelopment editThe Bullfinch was designed by Frank Barnwell chief designer of the Bristol Aeroplane Company as a parasol wing monoplane single seat fighter which was convertible to a two seat biplane thus meeting the requirements of the Royal Air Force for both a single seat interceptor fighter and a two seat reconnaissance fighter The potential cost savings associated with this concept which was planned to be powered by the Jupiter engine the rights to which Bristol had just acquired from the bankrupt Cosmos Engineering interested the Air Ministry who wrote a specification Specification 2 21 around Barnwell s proposed design and ordered three prototypes in June 1921 1 The Bullfinch monoplane or Type 52 Bullfinch Mk I was a cantilever parasol monoplane with a welded steel tube fuselage The wing was in two halves joined at the aircraft centreline with each half tapering from maximum thickness at half span to both the wing root and tips 2 The wing was wooden on the prototypes but was planned to be of metal construction for any subsequent production aircraft To produce the two seat fighter reconnaissance version the Type 53 Bullfinch Mk II an extra fuselage bay was added aft of the pilot containing a cockpit for the observer and a cantilever bottom wing attached which compensated for the shift in centre of gravity resulting from the weight of the observer and the lengthened fuselage The first prototype a Type 52 monoplane flew on 6 November 1922 with the second prototype also a monoplane flying in May 1923 1 After first flying as a monoplane the third prototype was converted to the biplane configuration flying in that configuration on 17 March 1924 While the single seater demonstrated reasonable performance the two seater was overweight and proved incapable of carrying the required military load 2 No further production occurred Variants editType 52 Bullfinch Mk I Single seat parasol monoplane Two built Type 53 Bullfinch Mk II Two seat biplane derivative One builtOperators edit nbsp United Kingdom Royal Air ForceSpecifications Bullfinch I editData from Bristol Aircraft Since 1910 2 General characteristicsCrew one Bullfinch II two Length 24 ft 5 in 7 44 m Bullfinch II 27 ft 6 in 8 38 m Wingspan 38 ft 5 in 11 71 m Height 10 ft 9 in 3 28 m Wing area 267 sq ft 24 8 m2 Bullfinch II 391 sq ft 36 33 m2 Empty weight 2 175 lb 987 kg Bullfinch II 2 495 lb 1 131 7 kg Gross weight 3 205 lb 1 454 kg Bullfinch II 4 088 lb 1 854 3 kg Powerplant 1 Bristol Jupiter III or IV 9 cyl air cooled radial piston engine 425 hp 317 kW Performance Maximum speed 135 mph 217 km h 117 kn at 15 000 ft 4 600 m Bullfinch II 120 mph 100 kn 190 km h at 15 000 ft 4 600 m Endurance 4 hours Service ceiling 22 000 ft 6 700 m Bullfinch II 18 000 ft 5 500 m Wing loading 12 lb sq ft 59 kg m2 Bullfinch II 10 5 lb sqft 51 27 kg m2 Armament 2 fixed forward firing 303 in 7 7 mm Vickers machine guns Bullfinch II 1 303 in 7 7 mm Lewis Gun on a Scarff ring in the rear cockpit References edit a b Mason Francis K 1992 The British Fighter since 1912 Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 082 7 a b c Barnes C H 1964 Bristol Aircraft Since 1910 1st ed London Putnam External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bristol Bullfinch The Transport Archive Bullfinch I Monoplane The Transport Archive Bullfinch II Biplane Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bristol Bullfinch amp oldid 1087848142, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
