
Bristol Freighter | |
|---|---|
| Χώρα | Ηνωμένο βασίλειο |
| Ρόλο | Φορτηγά αεροσκάφη |
| Πρώτη πτήση | 2 Δεκεμβρίου 1945 |
| Χτισμένο | 214 |
Teh Μπρίστολ Τύπου 170 Φορτηγό Πλοίο was a British twin-engine aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company as both a freighter and airliner. Its best known use was as an air ferry to carry cars and their passengers over relatively short distances. A passenger-only version was also produced, known as the Wayfarer. The Freighter was developed during the Second World War, having attracted official attention from the British Air Ministry, which sought the development of a rugged vehicle capable of carrying various cargoes, including a 3-ton truck. Various changes to the design were made to accommodate their requirements, but being completed too late to participate in the conflict, the majority of sales of the Freighter were to commercial operators. In response to customer demand, an enlarged version to maximise vehicle-carrying capacity, known as the Bristol Superfreighter, was developed.
| Μπρίστολ 170 Φορτηγό πλοίο Mk 31 Περπατήστε γύρω | |
|---|---|
| Φωτογράφους | Βλαντιμίρ Γιακούμποφ |
| Εντοπισμού | Εθνικό Μουσείο Αεροπορίας της Αυστραλίας |
| Φωτογραφίες | 73 |
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General Characteristics and Role
The Bristol Type 170 Freighter was a British medium-range transport aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company immediately after World War II. It was conceived as a rugged, low-cost “workhorse” for moving freight, vehicles, and passengers over short distances. The aircraft’s most distinctive feature was its box-like fuselage with clamshell doors in the nose, allowing for easy, direct loading of vehicles and bulky cargo. The Mk 31 variant, introduced in 1951, was a stretched version of the original design (Mk 21) offering greater payload and range. It was famously used by various airlines, notably Silver City Airways, as a “car ferry” to transport passengers and their automobiles across the English Channel.
| Property | Typical Value (Mk 31 Freighter) |
|---|---|
| Πληκτρολογήστε | Medium-Range Cargo/Car Ferry Transport |
| National Origin | Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο |
| Κατασκευαστής | Bristol Aeroplane Company |
| Service Entry (Mk 31) | 1951 |
| Πλήρωμα | 2-3 |
| Capacity (Car Ferry) | 32 passengers and 3 automobiles (varies by configuration) |
| Capacity (Cargo) | Approx. 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) |
| Μήκος | 20.86 m (68 ft 5 in) |
| Εκπέτασμα | 29.87 m (98 ft 0 in) |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight | 19,958 kg (44,000 lb) |
Powerplant and Performance
- Engine: 2 x Bristol Hercules 734 or 738 14-cylinder radial engines.
- Power Output (Each): 2,000 hp (1,491 kW).
- Propellers: Three-bladed constant-speed propellers.
- Maximum Speed: 236 mph (380 km/h).
- Cruising Speed: 165 mph (266 km/h).
- Range: Approximately 1,400 km (870 mi).
- Design Note: The high wing placement kept the engines and props clear of the loading area, and the fixed tricycle undercarriage was robust for operations from rough or unprepared strips.
Service and Legacy
- Car Ferry Service: The Freighter, particularly the Mk 31, defined the post-war air car ferry concept. Silver City Airways alone transported millions of passengers and vehicles across the English Channel, proving the concept viable before the introduction of dedicated roll-on/roll-off ferries.
- Military Use: The aircraft was used extensively by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) for utility and transport duties.
- Production: 214 aircraft were built between 1945 and 1958.
- Retirement: Although gradually replaced by faster turboprop and jet aircraft, a few examples remained in use in remote parts of the world well into the 1970s and 1980s.
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