Hi there.
I love seaplanes and i would like to see this variant of Blenheim in the game. I know that it was only a prototype, but surely isn't beautiful ?. If some talented plane maker could make this plane, please.
Bristol BolingbrokeMk III
The Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke was a maritime patrol aircraft for use the Royal Canadian Air Force. Built by Fairchild-Canada, it was a variant of the Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bomber. n 1935, the British Air Ministry issued Specification G.24/35 to procure a coastal reconnaissance/light bomber to replace the Avro Anson. Bristol proposed the Type 149, based on its Blenheim Mk I, with Bristol Aquila engines to give greater range.
While the Air Ministry rejected this proposal, a Blenheim Mk I, retaining its Mercury VIII engines, was converted as a Type 149 (Blenheim Mk III) for the general reconnaissance role.The nose was lengthened to provide more room for the bombardier, with the upper left surface of the nose being scooped out to maintain pilot visibility during takeoff and landing.
The longer range also fulfilled a Canadian requirement for a maritime patrol aircraft. Consequently, Fairchild Aircraft Ltd.
Two more Mk Is were converted into float planes during 1940, using two Edo floats, and also powered by a pair of Bristol Mercury VIII engines.
The use of float planes was investigated by most sides in the Pacific war where the long distances involved and lack of suitable airfields made sea planes seem desirable.
In most cases, the addition of the floats reduced the performance of the aircraft to unacceptably low levels.
The Bolingbroke Mk III did not enter production, and the two prototypes were converted back to Mk Is during 1942.
Bristol Type 142M Bolingbroke III (1) (Serial No.717)
The Mk.III was a Mk.I fitted with Edo floats and was also powered by a pair of Bristol Mercury VIII engines.
The Mk.III saw service with the RCAF from 15 November 1939 to 12 June 1946. Canadian Forces Archives.
Specifications
Name:
Bristol Bolingbroke Mk.III (Type 142M)
Category: aeroplane for anti-submarine/anti-ship warfare
Crew: 3
Take-off and Landing: CTOL - conventional take-off and landing
Arrangement of Wing: monoplane
Undercarriage: fixed
Landing Gear: floats
Technical Data:
Empty Weight: 3946 kg (8700 lb)
Take-off Weight: 6078 kg (13400 lb)
Maximum Take-off Weight: ? kg ( ? lb)
Wingspan: 17.17 m (56ft 4in)
Length: 14.1 m (46ft 3in)
Height: 5.49 m (18ft)
Wing Area: 43.57 m2 (469 ft2)
Number of Engines: 2
Type: Bristol Mercury XV, take-off power 920 hp
three-bladed variable-pitch propeller
Fuel Tank Capacity: 2128 l (468 Imp gal)
Maximum Speed: 421.6 km/h in ?m (262 mph in ? ft)
Service Ceiling: 7925 m (26000 ft)
Range: 2896.8 km( 1800 mi)
Armament: 1x fixed .303 Browning machine gun in the port wing
1x .303 Vickers K machine gun in the semi-retractable Bristol B.1
Mk.III dorsal turret
454 kg bombs internally (1000 lb)
http://forum.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/104228Variants;
Bolingbroke Mk I Twin-engine maritime patrol bomber aircraft, powered by two Bristol Mercury VIII radial piston engines, with British equipment. 18 built
Bolingbroke Mk II Conversion of fifth Mk I with US equipment - prototype of Mk IV
Bolingbroke Mk III Floatplane conversion of sixteenth Bolingbroke Mk I, with two Edo floats
Bolingbroke Mk IV Twin-engine maritime patrol bomber aircraft, equipped with anti-icing boots and a dinghy, also fitted with American and Canadian instruments and equipment, powered by two Bristol Mercury XV radial piston engines, 134 built.
Bolingbroke Mk IVW Sub-version of Mk IV powered by two 825 hp (615 kW) Pratt & Whitney SB4G Twin Wasp Junior radial piston engines as contingency against possible shortages of Mercury engines. The Mk IVW's performance was below that of the Mk IV and the supply of the British engines was maintained so production returned to the Mk IV after only 15 aircraft were built.
Bolingbroke Mk IVC Version of Mk IV with 900 hp (671 kW) Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines not requiring high octane fuel. One built.
Bolingbroke Mk IVT Multi-purpose trainer aircraft. A total of 350 built powered by Mercury XV engines, followed by a further 107 powered by the low-octane fuel Mercury XX* engine, giving a total of 457 built, with a further 51 cancelled. 6 Mk IVT were converted to dual controls. A further 89 were converted to Mk IVTT Target Tug with the addition of winching gear in the rear cabin and target drogue storage in the bomb bay.
717
Bristol
Fairchild Aircraft Ltd., Longueuil PQ
Bolingbroke Mk. III
142M first date: 25 July 1940 - First flight, on wheels.
Prototype and only Mk. III. Delivered to Test and Development Establishment at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario on 8 August 1940, taken on RCAF strength that day. First flight on Edo floats 28 August 1940. Ventral fin added after initial tests. To 5 (BR) Squadron, Dartmouth, NS, on floats for operational trials, from 5 November 1940 until February 1941. Then converted to wheels, in Mk. I configuration (not redesignated?). To Clarke Ruse Aircraft, 26 September 1941 to 6 January 1942. To storage at Yarmouth, NS with Eastern Air Command when completed. Moved to storage at No. 4 Repair Depot at Scoudouc, NB on 21 February 1942. Issued to No. 1 Training Command on 18 March 1942. To workshop reserve at No. 6 Repair Depot at Trenton, 7 May to 29 June 1943. Delivered to storage with No. 1 Training Command on 8 July 1943. Assigned to No. 6 Repair Depot on 19 April 1944 for scrapping, may have been delivered there on 1 May 1944.
last date: 21 June 1944 - Struck off, reduced to spares and produce
718
Bristol
Fairchild Aircraft Ltd., Longueuil PQ
Bolingbroke Mk. I
142M
first date: 14 August 1940 - Taken on charge by No. 119 (BR) Squadron
Built with seaplane fittings. First used by No. 119 (BR) Squadron at RCAF Station Yarmouth, NS. To No. 115 (F) Squadron at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario on 27 September 1941. To Western Air Command with this unit on 29 October 1941, used at RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC. To No. 1 Training Command on 22 November 1941. To No. 3 Training Command at Rockcliffe on 19 January 1942. To Fairchild Aircraft for cabin heating trials on 26 October 1942. Converted to dual control brakes on 28 October 1942. To storage at No. 4 Repair Depot, Scoudouc, NB on 12 February 1943. To No. 10 Bombing & Gunnery School at Mount Pleasant, PEI on 11 May 1944. To No. 1 Training Command on 19 August 1944. Loaned to Test and Development Establishment at Rockcliffe for pilot training, 2 October 1944. Scheduled for use by No. 9 Bombing & Gunnery School at Mont Joli, PQ when training was done. To No. 1 Air Command on 15 January 1945. Pending disposal from 6 April 1945. Transferred to Eastern Air Command on 5 May 1945. By 27 November 1945 was at No. 6 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Unit at Mont Joli, PQ. Had 419:10 total time, 69:20 since overhaul, when struck off.
last date: 12 June 1946 - Struck off, to War Assets Corporation for sale.http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/RCAF_701_750_detailed.htmUnfortunately I didn't find 3d model .
Cheers. Piotrek
Author
Topic: Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke Mk III (Type 142M) (Read 8134 times)
