Bristol Ten-seater

Bristol Aeroplane Company

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1910 (1910)
Headquarters	Bristol , United Kingdom
Products	Aircraft

The Bristol Ten-seater and Bristol Brandon were British single-engine biplane transport aircraft constructed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company during the early 1920s. A total of three units were produced, with two serving in civil aviation roles and one Bristol Brandon operated by the Royal Air Force.

Design and development

Between 1919 and 1920, Frank Barnwell, chief designer at the Bristol Aeroplane Company, explored various commercial transport concepts, ranging from single-engine, three-seat designs to four-engine models capable of carrying ten passengers; however, none of these concepts reached production. Following the British government's decision in early 1921 to subsidise approved airlines, Bristol authorised Barnwell to develop a single-engine transport aircraft. Although the initial plan was to equip it with a Bristol Jupiter engine, this powerplant lacked type approval at that time, leading to the prototype being fitted with a Napier Lion engine instead.

The prototype powered by the Lion engine, known as the Bristol Type 62 or Bristol Ten-seater, bore the registration G-EAWY and completed its maiden flight on 21 June 1921. This aircraft was a sizable two-bay biplane featuring a cabin designed for nine passengers alongside a forward cockpit for the pilot.

File:Bristol Tenseater.jpg

Ten-seater in 1921

The subsequent model, designated the Bristol Type 75, incorporated the preferred Jupiter engine mounted ahead of a fireproof bulkhead. Its engine assembly, referred to as a "power-egg," could be swung open like a gate to facilitate maintenance access behind the engine. This variant accommodated eight passengers and two crew members and first took to the air in July 1922 under the registration G-EBEV.

A third version, the Bristol Type 79, was commissioned by the Air Council to satisfy Specification 32/22 for a single-engine ambulance landplane intended for use by the Royal Air Force. It featured wings with an increased chord and provided space for either three stretchers plus an attendant or two stretchers alongside four seated patients.

Operational history

The Type 62 was granted its Certificate of Airworthiness on 14 February 1922 and was subsequently assigned to Instone Air Line to operate on the London-to-Paris route, transporting both passengers and freight. It was later handed over to Handley Page Transport Ltd for continued use.

The Type 75 obtained its Certificate of Airworthiness on 16 July 1924. By then, Instone Air Lines had merged with three other subsidised British airlines, forming Imperial Airways. Imperial Airways maintained a policy of deploying only multi-engine aircraft for passenger services, which led to the Type 75 being repurposed as a freighter capable of carrying up to 1,800 lb (820 kg) of cargo. It commenced operations on the London-Cologne route from 22 July 1924 and remained in service until 1926.

The Type 79’s maiden flight occurred on 19 March 1924 before it was delivered to the Royal Air Force, who designated it the Bristol Brandon in 1925. Due to its excessive weight when fully loaded, it was not deployed overseas. Instead, it was utilized as an ambulance aircraft at RAF Halton, alongside the Avro Andover.

Variants

Bristol Type 62

Initial model equipped with a 450 hp (340 kW) Napier Lion engine.

Bristol Type 75

Second iteration powered by a 425 hp Bristol Jupiter IV engine.

Bristol Type 79

Third version constructed for military transport and air ambulance roles within the RAF, powered by a Bristol Jupiter IV engine.

Operators

United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force
• Handley Page Transport
• Imperial Airways
• Instone Air Line

Specifications (Type 75)

File:Bristol Ten Seater 2-view .L'Aéronautique July 1921.png

Bristol Ten Seater two-view drawing from L'Aéronautique, July 1921

See also

Bibliography

• Barnes, C.H., Bristol Aircraft Since 1910, First Edition, Putnam, London, 1964
• Jackson, A.J., British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1, Putnam, London, 1974, ISBN 0-370-10006-9

External links

• "The Bristol Commercial Ten-Seater Biplane", Flight magazine, 7 July 1921, Vol XIII, No. 27, pp. 457–458. A period technical review of the Bristol Ten-seater powered by the Napier Lion engine, featuring illustrations and photographs.
• Images of the Bristol Brandon J6997 [1]