Bristol Braemar

Bristol Types 24 and 25 Braemar

Manufacturer: Bristol Aeroplane Company
Designed by: Frank Barnwell
First flight: 1918-08-13
Number built: 2
Developed into: Bristol Pullman

The Bristol Braemar was a British heavy bomber aircraft developed at the end of the First World War for the Royal Air Force. Only two prototypes were constructed.

Development

The prototype Braemar was developed in response to the establishment of the Independent Air Force in October 1917, as a bomber capable of the long-range bombing of Berlin if necessary. A large triplane, it had internal stowage for up to six 250 lb (110 kg) bombs.

The initial design featured a unique engine installation with a central engine room housing all four engines. The engines were to be geared in pairs and power taken from the engines to the four propellers by power shafts. This design was abandoned early in development, and both the completed Braemars had a conventional engine installation, with the engines in inline tandem pairs, driving pusher and tractor propellers. However, the engine-room design was resurrected later in the Braemar's development life, for the proposed steam-powered Tramp.

The first prototype Braemar flew on 13 August 1917, with four Siddeley Puma engines of 230 hp (170 kW) each. The prototype showed generally good performance with a top speed of 106 mph (171 km/h), but there were complaints from the test pilots about the view from the cockpit and the controls, and so the next aircraft produced was an improved version designated Braemar Mk.II. The Mk.II had considerably more power, in its four Liberty L-12 engines of 400 hp (300 kW), which gave it an improved speed of 125 mph (201 km/h).

The Braemar never entered service with the RAF, and the two prototypes were the only Braemars built. The Braemar design was subsequently developed as the Pullman passenger aircraft.

Specifications (Braemar Mk.II)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 6 - two pilots, wireless operator, engineer and two gunners
Length: 51 ft 6 in (15.73 m)
Wingspan: 81 ft 8 in (24.89 m)
Height: 20 ft (6.10 m)
Wing area: 1,905 ft² (177 m²)
Empty weight: 10,650 lb (4,840 kg)
Loaded weight: 18,000 lb (8,170 kg)
Powerplant: 4x— Liberty L-12 inline engine, 400 hp (300 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 109 kn (125 mph, 200 km/h) at sea level
Range: more than 1,000 mi ()
Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,100 m)
Wing loading: 9.45 lb/ft² (46.2 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.08 hp/lb (150 W/kg)

Armament

Guns: 2 x— 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns
Bombs: 1,500 lb (680 kg)

Related development

Bristol Types 26 and 33 Pullman
Bristol Types 37 and 44 Tramp

Comparable aircraft

Vickers Vimy
Handley Page V/1500

Barnes C.H. (1964). Bristol Aircraft Since 1910. Putnam & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-370-00015-3.

Bristol Braemar Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia