- Yes
- No
Introduction: The Bristol Type 146 was the last in a line of private venture fighters from Bristol. It represented the pinnacle of technology up to the point of its design, and a big risk for the company that was ultimately overshadowed by history.
Description: Building a new aircraft is always a risk, no matter the circumstances. Things can easily go wrong, leading to cost overruns, delays and potentially even the cancellation of the project. Such a series of events has occurred countless number of times in aviation history. However, there was an added risk in 1930’s Britain; the manufacturer effectively funded the project up to the prototype stage themselves for the most part. It was a significant risk on part of the company. Bristol was no stranger to such risk; the Type 133 crashed before it could even participate in trials. Fortunately, Bristol anticipated the potential of a new type, and work had already began on such an aircraft, and it was soon put forward for a new Air Ministry requirement: F.5/34. Work began on the prototype in 1935, however, it soon became clear that other factors would effect this project. Firstly, the Hurricane and Spitfire had already been chosen for production, and it seemed unlikely that the RAF would require a new fighter aircraft. Secondly, Bristol was given a large order for their Blenheim, and the companies resources began to be stretched to their limit.
Therefore, the Type 146 became a low priority project, not taking flight until 11th February 1938. Its intended power sources, the Bristol Perseus, was not ready in time, so it was powered by Mercury IX. It was of all-metal construction, with a monocoque fuselage. The wing was of high-aspect ratio and contained eight Browning machine guns, with the outer section including a moderate dihedral. Only the control surfaces were covered in fabric, in order to reduce weight. The aircraft was delivered for service trials in March 1938, and it was found to more or less fit the requirement, but none of the aircraft which participated in the trials were ordered into production. The aircraft’s fate was sealed later that year when it was involved in a taxiing accident, and was in too poor of a state to be repaired, and it was scrapped, marking the end of Bristol’s single-engined fighter development.
Performance:
Spoiler
TYPE 146 (F534)
Type: Single-engine, single-seat low-wing monoplane interceptor fighter. Manufacturer: The Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd, Filton, Bristol
Specification: F5/34
Powerplant: One 840hp Bristol Mercury IX nine-cylinder supercharged radial engine. Dimensions: Span, 39ft 0 in, length, 27ft 0 in, height, 10ft 4in; wing area, 220 sq ft. Weights: Tare, 3,2821h, all-up, 4,600th.
Performance: Max speed, 287 mph at 16,000ft, ceiling, 38,100ft.
Armament: Eight 0.303in Browning machine guns in outer wings
Prototype: One, K5119, flown by Cyril Uwins at Filton on 11 February 1938.
No production.
Conclusion: The Type 146 would be an interesting aircraft at low tiers for the UK, which is missing most of its low tier monoplane fighters, and really struggles because of this.
Sources:
Spoiler
“The British Fighter since 1912” by Francis K. Mason
https://www.baesystems.com/en/heritage/bristol-type-146