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Bristol Belvedere
The Bristol Type 192 Belvedere is a British twin-engine, tandem rotor military helicopter built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was designed for a variety of transport roles including troop transport, supply dropping and casualty evacuation. It was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1961 to 1969.
Contents
Design and development
The Belvedere was based on the Bristol Type 173 10-seat (later 16-seat) civil helicopter which first flew on 3 January 1952. The 173 project was cancelled in 1956 and Bristol spent time on the Type 191 and Type 193 to Royal Navy and Canadian specifications. The RAF expressed an interest in the aircraft and the Type 192 Belvedere was created. The first Type 192 prototype XG447 flew on 5 July 1958 with tandem wooden rotor blades, a completely manual control system and a castored, fixed quadricycle undercarriage. From the fifth prototype, the rotors fitted were all-metal, 4 bladed units. Production model controls and instruments allowed night operations.
26 Belvederes were built entering service as the Belvedere HC Mark 1 The Belvederes were originally designed for naval use but were later adapted to carry 18 fully-equipped troops with a total load capacity of 6,000 lb (2,700 kg). The two rotors were synchronised through a shaft, allowing the aircraft to operate through only one engine in the event of an emergency.
Operational history
The first prototype Belvedere went to the Belvedere Trials Unit at RAF Odiham, which was subsequently reformed as 66 Squadron RAF in 1961. Engine starter problems caused trouble early on but operational deployment continued. The prototype saw service in Europe, Africa, South Arabia and Borneo. XG447 was broken up at Boscombe Down on 7 August 1966.
As well as 66 Squadron, the type was deployed to 72 Squadron in 1961 and 26 Squadron in 1962 all at RAF Odiham. 26 Squadron later transferred to RAF Khormaskar where it disbanded in November 1965. The helicopters were transferred by HMS Albion to Singapore to join 66 Squadron until the squadron was disbanded in 1969. 72 Squadron kept its Belvederes until August 1964 when it exchanged them for Westland Wessex. [1]
Variants
- Type 173 Mk 1
- First prototype.
- Type 173 Mk 2
- Second prototype.
- Type 173 Mk 3
- Three more prototypes.
- Type 191
- Projected naval version. Never built.
- Type 192
- Military transport helicopter for the Royal Air Force, under designation 'Belvedere HC.Mk 1.
Operators
Civil operators
- British European Airways - (Bristol Type 173)
Military operators
Survivors
The following Bristol Belvederes have been preserved and are either on display or currently undergoing restoration.
Type 173
- XF785 on display at Bristol Aero Collection, Kemble
Belvedere HC.1
- XG452 undergoing restoration at The Helicopter Museum, Weston-Super-Mare
- XG454 on display at Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
- XG474 on display at Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon
- XG462 (Nose section only) The Helicopter Museum, Weston-Super-Mare
Specifications (HC.1)
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Capacity:
- 30 seats or
- 18 fully-equipped troops
- Payload: 6,000 lb (2,700 kg)
- Length: 54 ft 4 in (16.56 m)
- Rotor diameter: 48 ft 11 in (14.9 m)
- Height: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
- Empty weight: 11,085 lb (5,028 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 19,000 lb (8,600 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Napier Gazelle turboshaft, 1,465 hp (1,092 kW) each
Performance
- Cruise speed: 138 mph (119 kn, 222 km/h)
- Range: 460 mi (400 nmi, 720 km)
- Service ceiling: 23,000 ft (7,000 m)
See also
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
Lists relating to aviation | |
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| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
References
Notes
- ↑ Jefford, RAF Squadrons
Bibliography
- Jefford, C.G., RAF Squadrons. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 2nd edition, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2
External links
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
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| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bristol Belvedere". |
