Bristol T.T.A.

Bristol Type 6 T.T.A

Company type	Prototype aircraft
Industry	Aviation
Founded	1915
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Twin-engine two-seat biplane fighter

The Bristol Type 6 T.T.A was a British-designed twin-engine, two-seat biplane fighter developed in 1915. Although two prototypes were constructed, the aircraft never advanced to mass production.

Development

In response to a War Office specification for a local defence fighter, Bristol designed the T.T.A in 1915. This two-seat biplane featured twin tractor engines—hence the designation "T.T."—with the Type 6 numbering assigned retrospectively in 1923. The design priorities included compactness and maximizing firing arcs from both crew positions.

The T.T.A was an unswept biplane with slight wing stagger and constant chord wings equipped with extended ailerons on the upper surfaces. Constructed with three bays, its inner interplane struts supported rectangular engine nacelles mounted midway between the wings. Each engine carried a twin-wheeled undercarriage beneath it, complemented by a tailskid and a noseskid to prevent nose-overs. The tail assembly featured a large tailplane identical in shape to that of the Bristol Scout D, including unbalanced elevators; however, the rudder lacked a fin but was balanced. The observer occupied a forward cockpit armed with two freely mounted 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Guns, while the pilot sat aft of the wing trailing edge with a rear-facing Lewis gun.

Initially, the design—known simply as the Bristol T.T.—intended to use two 150 hp (110 kW) R.A.F. 4a engines. However, since priority for these engines was given to the B.E.12 and R.E.8 aircraft, Bristol was instructed to equip the prototype with 120 hp (90 kW) William Beardmore and Company engines instead. This variant was designated T.T.A, and two prototypes were ordered; the first flew on 26 April 1916, followed by the second in May. Both were delivered to RAF Upavon for evaluation. Although its top speed and climb performance surpassed those of the larger, more powerful competitor—the F.E.4—the T.T.A failed to gain favour and did not receive production orders.