Bristol Grampus

Bristol Aeroplane Company

Industry	Aerospace
Predecessor	British and Colonial Aeroplane Company
Headquarters	Bristol , United Kingdom

The Bristol Grampus was a conceptual British biplane passenger aircraft designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company (formerly the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company) but never progressed to construction.

Design and development

In the aftermath of World War I, the Bristol Aeroplane Company explored the possibility of creating a versatile aircraft suitable for either passenger transport or cargo duties. Designer Frank Barnwell introduced a single-engine biplane intended to carry six passengers, designated as Grampus I, which was to be powered by a 500 horsepower (370 kW) Siddeley Tiger engine. However, company executives deemed this model too large for the anticipated market demand and expressed reservations regarding the availability of Tiger engines. Barnwell then developed a smaller, three-seat version called Grampus II, initially designed with a 150 horsepower (110 kW) RAF 4a air-cooled powerplant, with plans to equip production models with the Armstrong Siddeley Lynx radial engine. Despite these efforts, the board did not endorse this design nor two additional eight-passenger variants that were proposed. By February 1920, the entire project was discontinued as none of the concepts fulfilled the requirements for an upcoming Air Ministry competition.

Variants

Type 31 Grampus I

Conceptual six-seat model powered by a 500 horsepower (370 kW) Siddeley Tiger engine; no units were constructed.

Type 42 Grampus II

Three-passenger proposal featuring a 150 horsepower (110 kW) RAF 4a engine; remained unbuilt.

Type 43 Grampus IV

Eight-passenger design intended to be driven by four Bristol Lucifer engines; not realised.

Type 57 Grampus V

Variant of the Grampus IV aimed at the American market, equipped with two Hall-Scott engines; never constructed.

References

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