| Bristol Biplane Type 'T' | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Single-seat sporting biplane |
| Manufacturer | British and Colonial Aeroplane Company |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 5 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1911 |
The Bristol Biplane Type 'T', sometimes called theChallenger-Dickson Biplane, was a derivative of theBristol Boxkite. It was built in 1911 by theBritish and Colonial Aeroplane Company and was designed as a cross-country racing aircraft forMaurice Tabuteau.
The Type 'T' was not a development of the Bristol Boxkite but did use some of the experience gained with the Boxkite. It was designed byGeorge Challenger, with the assistance of practical advice from CaptainBertram Dickson, a prominent pilot of the day. It had the same "Farman" configuration as the Boxkite, differing principally in having an enclosednacelle to house the pilot. The structure bearing the front elevator also differed substantially: the elevator was mounted lower down, level with the lower wing, and the undercarriage skids were continued forward and upwards to form part of the elevator mounting. The rear-mounted twin rudders were balanced, unlike those of the Boxkite. The first aircraft (Bristol No. 45) was built to compete in the 1911Circuit de l'Europe race, withMaurice Tabuteau as pilot, and was powered by a 70 hp (52 kW)Gnome Gammarotary engine. Tabateau put up a creditable performance, and completed all of the race's nine stages.[1]
Four more aircraft were built for1911 Daily Mail Circuit of Britain Air Race. These differed from the design of No. 45 in having a modified nacelle and rudders placed further out, away from the slipstream of the engine.
Maurice Tabuteau also entered the race in the original Type T No. 45 but none of Type Ts finished the race. After the crash of No. 51 none of the Type Ts were flown again. An additional machine, No. 59, was modified by Gordon England as the Challenger-England biplane. One more aircraft, No. 78, was to be fitted with a 100 hp Gnome engine but was never completed.
Under the direction ofGordon England one aircraft was later converted to atractor configuration, powered by a 60 hp (45 kW)E.N.V. Type F water-cooled V-8 engine.
Data from Bristol Aircraft Since 1910[3]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development