Bolingbroke Mk III

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Hello, I would like to suggest this interesting Canadian plane I found, the Bolingbroke Mk III a Bolingbroke with Edo floats.

66acec9be639ff7ffa35efaf_60f98715486c49407ae7d3fa_Bristol--Fairchild--149-Bolingbroke--floatplane--RCAF-Photo

History:

The Bolingbroke was a licensed-built Blenheim as its long-range fulfilled the need for a maritime aircraft for Canada as it had a longer range compared to the Blenheim, built in 1939 They served until 1944. A small run of the aircraft was built to the specs of the Blenheim Mk.IV known as the Bolingbroke Mk 1, was followed up by the service variant known as the Bolingbroke Mk IV which served Canada from 1940-1944. Compared to the Blenheim the Bolingbroke has a distinctive shape, with the nose being lengthened to have more room for the bombardier and an extra window for more visibility for takeoff and landing. The airframe was nicknamed “Bolly”. The Bolingbroke served in the Atlantic, Pacific and Alaska. The Bolingbroke Mk III is a conversion of a sixteenth with two Edo floats, this floatplane conversion flew with the No. 5(BR) squadron from 30 September 1940 to February 1941 for testing, the squadron it flew with was known as No. 5 (Flying Boat) Squadron before being renamed No. 5 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron RCAF. The Mk. III spent its life in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The tests were considered just basically successful but no other aircraft were converted. This convention made it one of the largest floatplanes of the period.

Other photos

66acec9be639ff7ffa35efd9_60f801809f82aa7f4fffec19_Bristol-Bolingbroke-on-floats--RCAF
66acec9be639ff7ffa35f01d_60f9871592a3795e20cb5bd1_Bristol--Fairchild--149-Bolingbroke-floatplane--RCAF--8-Oct-1940--LAC-MIKAN-No--3199782
66acec9be639ff7ffa35f03c_60f9871508a14b486cf6d0a5_Bristol-Bolingbroke-Mk--I--RCAF--Serial-No--717---floatplane--Dartmouth--NS--1941---MIKAN-No--3726439

Specs:
Bristol Bolingbroke Mk.III (Serial No. 717)
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 (262 mph)
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)

Sources

Canadian Warplanes 3: Fairchild Bolingbroke
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke Mk III (Type 142M)
Bristol Bolingbroke - Wikipedia
Information archivée dans le Web | Information Archived on the Web

A Canadian float plane would add some flavor to a possible tree, so yes.

1 Like

I mean Canada did licensed build both US and UK float planes as well as having a domestic one enter service with the Vancouver. So Canada has a few options for float planes.

Due to that, I think this would make for a nice event plane(in some sort of tree for Canada hopefully) as it doesn’t take anything away if you don’t have it and due to it being a one-off memey prototype.

A Canadian Floatplane? Well this gets my absolute +1!

1 Like

+1 Love float planes