Bristol Beaufighter Aircraft

Beaufighter VIf, 307 Sqn RAF. Copyright: Arvo Vercamer

Production Details

Design Company:

The Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd, Filton & Whitchurch, Bristol

First Flight:

17 July 1939

Beaufighter I:

360 - Bristol Aeroplane Co 325 - Fairey Aviation Co 240 - MAP

Beaufighter II:

450 - Bristol Aeroplane Co

Beaufighter VI:

668 - Bristol Aeroplane Co 838 - MAP 150 - Rootes Securities Ltd 175 - Fairey Aviation Co

Beaufighter XI:

163 - MAP

Beaufighter T.F.X:

2095 - MAP 110 - Rootes Securities Ltd

Beaufighter T.F.21:

364 - Australia

Type Specification

Applies to:

Bristol 156 Beaufighter X

Type:

Two seat long range day and night torpedo and rocket carrier

Wing:

Mid wing cantilever all metal monoplane with stressed skin. Metal framed ailerons have fabric covering

Fuselage:

All metal monocoque of Z section frames and L section stringers, covered with a smooth metal skin

Tail Unit:

Cantilever monoplane type. Tailplane and fin are separate structures with flush riveted smooth metal skin. Rudder and elevators have metal frames and fabric covering

Landing Gear:

Retractable type. Each independent unit is raised backwards into the engine nacelle. Tail wheel retracts forward into fuselage

Power Plant:

Two 1,600 hp Bristol Hercules XVII fourteen cylinder sleeve valve radial air cooled engines with constant speed airscrews

Accommodation:

Crew of two with pilot in nose and observer aft of wings

Armament:

Four 20 mm nose cannon and one 0.303 in machine gun in the observers station. One 18 in torpedo carried under fuselage

Span:

57 ft 10 in

Length:

41 ft 4 in

Height:

15 ft 10 in

Wing Area:

503 sq ft

Tare:

15,592 lb

Loaded:

25,400 lb

Max Speed:

320 mph at 10,000 ft

Rate of Climb:

1,600 ft/min

Service Ceiling:

19,000 ft

Range:

1,750 miles

Preserved in British Museums

Beaufighter II:

Unknown - Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon - Nose

Beaufighter T.F.X:

RD253 - Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon - Display BF-10 - Museum of Flight, East Fortune Aerodrome - Stored

Beaufighter Mk 21:

A19-144 - The Fighter Collection, Duxford Aerodrome - Restoration

Beaufighter:

Unknown - Midland Air Museum, Coventry - Cockpit

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