| Ten-seater/Brandon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Transport |
| Manufacturer | Bristol Aeroplane Company |
| Designer | |
| Number built | 3 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1922 |
| First flight | 21 June 1921 |
| Retired | 1926 |
TheBristol Ten-seater andBristol Brandon wereBritish single-enginebiplane transport aircraft built by theBristol Aeroplane Company in the early 1920s. Only three were built, two of which were used as civil transports and one of which (the Bristol Brandon) served with theRoyal Air Force.
In 1919 and 1920,Frank Barnwell, chief designer of theBristol Aeroplane Company, considered designs for a commercial transport aircraft, ranging from single-engine, three-seat aircraft to four-engine aircraft carrying ten passengers, none of which were built. Early in 1921, theBritish government decided to provide subsidies for approved airlines, so Bristol's management authorised Barnwell to proceed with a design for a single-engined transport aircraft. It was intended to be powered by aBristol Jupiter engine, but this had not yet been type-approved, so the initialprototype was fitted with aNapier Lion engine instead.[1]
The Lion-engined prototype, theBristol Type 62, orBristol Ten-seater, with the registrationG-EAWY first flew on 21 June 1921.[2] The Ten-seater was a large, two-baybiplane, with a cabin for nine passengers and a forwardcockpit for the single pilot.[3]
The second aircraft, theBristol Type 75 was powered by the preferred Jupiter engine, which was mounted forward of a fireproof bulkhead, with the entire engine installation (or "power-egg") capable of being swung open like a gate to allow easy access to the rear of the engine. The Type 75 was designed to accommodate eight passengers and two crew. This aircraft, registeredG-EBEV, first flew in July 1922.[2] A third aircraft, theBristol Type 79 was ordered by the Air Council to meet a requirement (Specification 32/22) for a single-engined ambulance landplane for theRoyal Air Force. It was fitted with wings of greaterchord, and had accommodation for three stretchers and an attendant or two stretchers and four sitting patients.[4]
The Type 62 had itsCertificate of Airworthiness awarded on 14 February 1922[5] and was transferred toInstone Air Line for service on itsLondon-to-Paris route, carrying both passengers and cargo. It was later transferred toHandley Page Transport Ltd.[3]
The Type 75 received its Certificate of Airworthiness on 16 July 1924.[6] By this time, Instone Air Lines had merged with the other three subsidised British airlines to formImperial Airways. Imperial had a policy of using only multi-engine aircraft for passenger flights, so the Type 75 was converted into a freighter to carry 1,800 lb (820 kg) of cargo, going into service on the London-Cologne route on 22 July 1924,[2] continuing in service until 1926.
The Type 79 first flew on 19 March 1924 and was delivered to the RAF, who named the aircraft theBristol Brandon in 1925. It was overweight at full load and did not go into overseas service, being used as an ambulance atRAF Halton together with theAvro Andover.[7]
Data fromBristol Aircraft Since 1910.[10]
General characteristics
Performance
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
