Bristol Sycamore
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The Bristol Type 171 Sycamore was the first British designed helicopter to fly and also to serve with the Royal Air Force. Created by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, it was used for search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare.
The Sycamore also has the distinction of being the second helicopter type to be used by the Australian Defence Forces.
Bristol set up its helicopter department in 1944 when engineers working on helicopter projects were released from the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment.
The Bristol 171 was a piston-engined four-seat (later five-seat) helicopter designed by Raoul Hafner with a three-bladed rotor.
Note that the civil versions did not use the name Sycamore.
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[edit] Military service
The Sycamore joined the RAF in 1953, serving with 9 squadrons in total. It was used during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) for deploying Army foot patrols into the jungle.
[edit] Variants
Variant and number produced
[edit] Type 171
- Mk 1 : Prototype. Only 2 were built.
- Mk 2 : Second prototype, only 1 was built.
- Mk 3 : Production model with five-seats in a widened fuselages and a shortened nose to improve visibility. 15 built.
- Mk 3A : Civil version with additional freight hold, 2 were built for BEA.
- Mk 4 : The main production model and military version called Sycamore with a more powerful engine.
[edit] Sycamore
- Sycamore HC 10 : 1 built for evaluation by the Army Air Corps as an air ambulance.
- Sycamore HC 11 : 4 were built for evaluation by the Army Air Corps, as communications aircraft.
- Sycamore HR 12 : 4 were built for the RAF for evaluation as search and rescue aircraft.
- Sycamore HR 13 : 2 were built with rescue winches for the RAF for evaluation as search and rescue aircraft.
- Sycamore HR 14 : 85 were built for the RAF, as search and rescue aircraft.
- Sycamore Mk 14 : 3 were built for the Belgian Air Force, for use in the Belgian Congo.
- Sycamore Mk 50 : 3 were built for the Royal Australian Navy, for search and rescue, and plane guard duties.
- Sycamore Mk 51 : 7 were built for the Royal Australian Navy, for search and rescue, and plane guard duties.
- Sycamore Mk 52 : 50 were built for the German Army and Navy.
[edit] Civil Operators
[edit] Military Operators
- Australia.
- Royal Australian Air Force.
- Royal Australian Navy.
- No. 723 Squadron RAN
- No. 724 squadron RAN
- Belgium.
- Germany.
- United Kingdom.
[edit] General characteristics
- First flight: 27 July 1947
- Powerplant: Alvis Leonides 550 hp (410 kW)
- Rotor diameter: 48 ft 7 in (14.8 m)
- Length: 42 ft (12.8 m)
- Height: 14 ft 7 in (4.4 m)
- Empty weight: 3,810 lb (1728 kg)
- All-up weight: 5,600 lb (2540 kg)
- Maximum cruising speed: 132 mph (212 km/h)
- Cruise range: 330 miles (531 km)
- Endurance: 3½ hours
- Crew: Two, plus accommodation for three passengers
[edit] External links
- RAF Museum page on the Bristol Sycamore
- British Aircraft Directory page on the Bristol Sycamore
- helis.com pages on the Bristol Sycamore
[edit] References
- Bowyer, Chaz. The Encyclopedia of British Military Aircraft. Bison Books Limited. ISBN 0-86124-258-0.
- Barnes, C. H. (1964). Bristol aircraft since 1910. Putnam. ISBN 0-851-77823-2.
[edit] Related content
Comparable aircraft
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Timeline of aviation
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