The Bristol Type 123 was a single-seat, single-engine biplanefighter built to a United Kingdom Air Ministry specification for a four-gun fighter in the early 1930s. Only one was built.
In late 1931 the Air Ministry released Air Ministry specification F.7/30. This was for a four-gun fighter with better high-altitude performance and endurance than current fighters, outstanding climb rate, manoeuvrability and all-round vision combined with a low landing speed. It was made clear that the evaporatively-cooled Rolls-Royce Goshawk was the preferred engine. The best-known outcome of this specification was the crank-winged Supermarine Type 224monoplane with an open cockpit and fixed undercarriage designed by R.J. Mitchell.[1][2] Bristol submitted several biplane designs, none of which brought an order for a prototype, but they were invited to offer a private-venture aircraft.
The Bristol Type 123 was the result. Bristol's last biplane, it was of compact, striking appearance and had innovative control features. It was[3] a single-bay biplane with wings of constant chord almost to the tips and heavy stagger. The upper wings were swept and without dihedral, the cantilever lower wings unswept with 6° of dihedral. Both wings carried full-span ailerons. The upper wing also carried full-span slots on the leading edge, arranged in inner and outer groups. The ailerons were linked to interceptors behind the outer slots which rose when the inner slots opened at high angles of attack. As this happened, the ailerons drooped symmetrically. The slot-plus-interceptor combination was intended to prevent a stall turning into a spin and had been tested by Handley Page on a de Havilland Moth[4] and later by Bristol on a Bulldog.[5]Rudder and elevators were horn balanced, the latter carrying trim tabs. The wings, empennage and fuselage behind the cockpit were all fabric covered over a metal structure.[3]
The combination of heavy stagger and a slender nose gave the Type 123 a slightly humpbacked appearance, with the pilot's open cockpit at the top above the centre of the lower wing and well behind the trailing edge of the upper wing. There were pairs of machine guns on either side of the engine. The undercarriage was fixed and almost completely enclosed in forward-thrusting fairings with a cross-axle between the wheels.[3]
The aircraft was powered by a Goshawk III loaned by the Air Ministry, which used condensers in the lower wing leading edge for cooling, coupled to a forward-mounted ventral condenser. Engine cooling problems delayed the first flight, made by Cyril Uwins on 12 June 1934. Testing revealed serious lateral instability that a series of modifications to fin, rudder and the inner slots failed to cure, and which may have been structural. Development was therefore abandoned.[3]
Barnes, C. H. (1970). Bristol Aircraft since 1910. London: Putnam Publishing. ISBN0-370-00015-3.
Thetford, Owen (1957). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1917-57. London: Putnam Publishing.
Taylor, John W.R. (1955). Flight. London: Hulton Press.
. Flight. Vol. XXI, no. 1059. 11 April 1929. pp. 289–90. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
April 09, 2023
bristol, type, single, seat, single, engine, biplane, fighter, built, united, kingdom, ministry, specification, four, fighter, early, 1930s, only, built, type, 123role, single, seat, fighternational, origin, united, kingdommanufacturer, bristol, aeroplane, com. The Bristol Type 123 was a single seat single engine biplane fighter built to a United Kingdom Air Ministry specification for a four gun fighter in the early 1930s Only one was built Type 123Role Single seat fighterNational origin United KingdomManufacturer Bristol Aeroplane CompanyFirst flight 12 June 1934Number built 1 Contents 1 Development 2 Specifications 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyDevelopment EditIn late 1931 the Air Ministry released Air Ministry specification F 7 30 This was for a four gun fighter with better high altitude performance and endurance than current fighters outstanding climb rate manoeuvrability and all round vision combined with a low landing speed It was made clear that the evaporatively cooled Rolls Royce Goshawk was the preferred engine The best known outcome of this specification was the crank winged Supermarine Type 224 monoplane with an open cockpit and fixed undercarriage designed by R J Mitchell 1 2 Bristol submitted several biplane designs none of which brought an order for a prototype but they were invited to offer a private venture aircraft The Bristol Type 123 was the result Bristol s last biplane it was of compact striking appearance and had innovative control features It was 3 a single bay biplane with wings of constant chord almost to the tips and heavy stagger The upper wings were swept and without dihedral the cantilever lower wings unswept with 6 of dihedral Both wings carried full span ailerons The upper wing also carried full span slots on the leading edge arranged in inner and outer groups The ailerons were linked to interceptors behind the outer slots which rose when the inner slots opened at high angles of attack As this happened the ailerons drooped symmetrically The slot plus interceptor combination was intended to prevent a stall turning into a spin and had been tested by Handley Page on a de Havilland Moth 4 and later by Bristol on a Bulldog 5 Rudder and elevators were horn balanced the latter carrying trim tabs The wings empennage and fuselage behind the cockpit were all fabric covered over a metal structure 3 The combination of heavy stagger and a slender nose gave the Type 123 a slightly humpbacked appearance with the pilot s open cockpit at the top above the centre of the lower wing and well behind the trailing edge of the upper wing There were pairs of machine guns on either side of the engine The undercarriage was fixed and almost completely enclosed in forward thrusting fairings with a cross axle between the wheels 3 The aircraft was powered by a Goshawk III loaned by the Air Ministry which used condensers in the lower wing leading edge for cooling coupled to a forward mounted ventral condenser Engine cooling problems delayed the first flight made by Cyril Uwins on 12 June 1934 Testing revealed serious lateral instability that a series of modifications to fin rudder and the inner slots failed to cure and which may have been structural Development was therefore abandoned 3 Specifications EditData from Barnes 1970 p 248General characteristicsCrew one Length 25 ft 2 in 7 67 m Wingspan 29 ft 7 in 9 02 m Height 9 ft 6 in 2 90 m Wing area 248 sq ft 23 04 m2 Empty weight 3 300 lb 1 497 kg Gross weight 4 737 lb 2 149 kg Powerplant 1 Rolls Royce Goshawk III V 12 evaporatively cooled 695 hp 519 kW Performance Maximum speed 235 mph 378 km h 204 kn References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bristol 123 Notes Edit Thetford 1957 p 396 Taylor 1955 p 418 a b c d Barnes 1970 pp 243 5 Flight 11 April 1929 Barnes 1970 p 244 Bibliography Edit Barnes C H 1970 Bristol Aircraft since 1910 London Putnam Publishing ISBN 0 370 00015 3 Thetford Owen 1957 Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1917 57 London Putnam Publishing Taylor John W R 1955 Flight London Hulton Press Editorial Comment Flight Vol XXI no 1059 11 April 1929 pp 289 90 Archived from the original on 5 March 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bristol Type 123 amp oldid 1108134248, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
