Bristol Boarhound

Bristol Aeroplane Company

Industry	Aerospace, Defence
Founded	1910 in United Kingdom
Founder	Sir George White
Headquarters	Filton , United Kingdom
Products	Aircraft, including Bristol Boarhound

The Bristol Boarhound served as a British army cooperation and liaison aircraft during the 1920s. It featured a two-seat biplane configuration with equal-span wings and was constructed using a steel frame covered with fabric.

Design and development

Conceived as a private initiative, the Boarhound was developed under the Air Ministry's Specification 8/24 (later replaced by Specification 20/25) to fulfill the role of an Army cooperation aircraft intended to succeed the Bristol Fighter. Its maiden flight occurred on 8 June 1925 under the designation Type 93 Boarhound.

Designed by Captain Frank Barnwell, the Boarhound was a two-bay biplane employing an innovative steel construction technique. This involved shaping high-tensile steel strips into cusped and flanged sections, which were then riveted to form the longerons and struts. This approach yielded a structure that was lighter, more robust, and more cost-effective than traditional drawn tube frameworks. The aircraft’s deep fuselage accommodated substantial radio and camera apparatus, and it was powered by a Bristol Jupiter IV engine equipped with variable valve timing technology.

During evaluation, the Boarhound competed against the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas, de Havilland Hyena, and Vickers Vespa. However, the variable timing mechanism of its Jupiter engine resulted in diminished power output at lower altitudes—a significant drawback for an army cooperation aircraft—leading to the Atlas being preferred.

Despite this, Bristol’s management chose to proceed with development as a private venture targeting a general-purpose bomber role to replace the Airco DH.9A. Consequently, a second model—the Type 93A Beaver—was produced, making its first flight on 23 February 1927. Nevertheless, this design was ultimately passed over in favour of the Fairey IIIF, which utilised the more favoured Napier Lion engine, available in considerable quantities.

Both the Boarhound I (registration G-EBLG) and the Beaver (registration G-EBQF) were withdrawn from service at Filton Aerodrome by April 1927.

Additionally, two further units were manufactured as reconnaissance fighters under the designation Type 93B Boarhound II.

Operational history

The sole two Boarhound II aircraft ever produced were acquired by Mexico in 1928 and deployed against insurgent forces in April 1929. These Boarhounds demonstrated effectiveness in Mexican operations, with their metal airframe well-suited to the local environmental conditions. Notably, two prominent figures of the Mexican Air Force, Pablo Sidar and Alfonso Cruz Rivera, piloted the Boarhound II.

Variants

File:BBeaver.jpg

Type 93A in 1927

Type 93 Boarhound

Designed for army cooperation roles, this variant was equipped with a Jupiter IV engine. Only one unit was manufactured.

Type 93A Beaver

A versatile aircraft intended for general-purpose use. One example was built.

Type 93B Boarhound II

Developed as a fighter-reconnaissance platform for Mexico, powered by a 450 hp (340 kW) Jupiter VI engine. Two units were constructed.

Operators

Template:MEX

• Mexican Air Force

Template:UK

References

• Donald, David, and Lake, Jon, editors. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-880588-24-2.

External links

• Bristol Boarhound – Directory of British Aircraft
• The Transport Archive – Bristol Boarhound