Bristol Type 84 Bloodhound

Bristol Aeroplane Company

Company type	Private
Industry	Aerospace
Headquarters	Bristol , United Kingdom
Products	Aircraft

For the surface-to-air missile, see Bristol Bloodhound.

Template:Infobox aircraft The Bristol Bloodhound was a British-designed two-seat aircraft intended for reconnaissance and fighter roles, developed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company as a potential successor to the Bristol F.2 Fighter for the Royal Air Force. The project did not succeed, resulting in only four prototypes being constructed.

Development and design

Following the unsuccessful attempt with the two-seat variant of the Bristol Bullfinch, there remained a need within the Royal Air Force for a replacement of the Bristol F.2 Fighter. Consequently, the Air Ministry issued Specification 3/22 in 1922, calling for a two-seat fighter equipped with a supercharged powerplant. Bristol's lead designer, Wilfred Reid, who had taken over from Frank Barnwell after his relocation to Australia, created the Bristol Type 84 Bloodhound to satisfy this specification. Bristol chose to develop a prototype independently as a private venture.

The Bloodhound was designed as a two-seat biplane featuring swept, two-bay wings and was powered by a Bristol Jupiter IV radial engine. Its maiden flight occurred in late May 1923. Upon Frank Barnwell's return from Australia to reassume his position as chief designer, the aircraft underwent modifications that included lengthening of the fuselage and alterations to the wing design. The Air Ministry subsequently commissioned three Bloodhounds under an updated specification (22/22), with one constructed entirely from metal and the remaining two fitted with wooden wings. The first of these flew on 4 February 1925.

Evaluation conducted by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at both RAF Martlesham Heath and Farnborough revealed that the Bloodhound failed to meet expectations as a replacement for the F.2. Other contenders assessed for this reconnaissance fighter role—the Hawker Duiker, Armstrong Whitworth Wolf, and de Havilland D.H.42 Dormouse—were similarly found inadequate.

The initial prototype received an upgraded Jupiter V engine and was granted a civil certificate of airworthiness prior to participating in the 1925 King's Cup air race. Later, it was fitted with a Jupiter VI engine along with extended-range fuel tanks, serving as an engine test platform that demonstrated the reliability of the Jupiter powerplant for use by Imperial Airways. The aircraft was ultimately dismantled in 1931.

Operators

Template:UK

• Bristol Aeroplane Company
• Royal Air Force

External links

• G-EBGG
• Bristol Bloodhound – British Aircraft Directory
• The transport Archive – Type 84 – Bristol Bloodhound
• "Bristol 'Jupiter' Endurance Test" a 1926 Flight article