bristol beaufighter.

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

I believe its around 330MPH
how accurate these figuires are Im sure you guys will tell me

Role Heavy fighter or light bomber
Crew 2
First Flight July 17 1939
Entered Service 1940
Manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company

Dimensions
Length 41 ft 8 in 12.7m
Wingspan 57 ft 10 in 17.7 m
Height 15 ft 10 in 4.8 m


Weight
Maximum takeoff 21,600 lb 9,800 kg

Powerplant
Engines 2 Bristol Hercules XVIII radial engines
Power 1,770 hp 1.3 MW

Performance
Maximum speed (at 15,600ft) 333 mph 540 km/h
Combat range 1,480 miles 2,380 km
Service ceiling 26,500 ft 8,000 m

Armament
Guns 4 x 20 mm Hispano cannon in nose
3 x 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in each wing
 
when I say slow. I mean slow for late world war2 standards. 330mph isn't quick and some versions just managed 303mph.
 
It didn't need to be fast by late war fighter standards. When on an attack mission the speed combined with the Beaufighters solid airframe would often bring the crews home safely.

It was also armed to the teeth ...and if you're on the ground, and a Beaufighter spots you ...all you can do is bend over backwards and kiss your ass goodbye.
 
And that's the beauty of the Beaufighter, it drops to 150 MPH and it's still built like a brick shit house reinforced with titanium.
 
Interesting link... Ive read before on the shroud-tail torps (or ring-tail) awhile back...

I did not know however that it was Caltech that did the test/design though, or that the shroud idea was for higher alt drops... I just thought it was for higher drop speeds...

Good Link, other things there are pretty interesting as well...
 
Wouldn't there have been fighters around particularly in the pacific? So the speed thing would be quite important because most Jap fighters could do 350mph easily. It doesn't matter how rogged you are your going the get shoot down eventually.

Although granted the speed isn't such an issue in the atlantic.
 
You've got it the wrong way around. Most Japanese fighters were extremely poor over 300 MPH, the Zeke was struggling for any agility over 275 MPH and the Beaufighter could have evaded it. In Europe however, we have the Fw-190s and Bf-109s ...all capable at low, high and medium speeds. They were the greatest threats to the Beaufighter, not the Japanese aircraft.

And there were fighters around ...that's what an escort is for.
 
Good point. Was the beaufighter able to evide the German fighters in anyway? Did the beaufighters ever get escorted because I have never heard any acounts of an escorted beaufighter mission.
 
helmitsmit said:
Good point. Was the beaufighter able to evide the German fighters in anyway? Did the beaufighters ever get escorted because I have never heard any acounts of an escorted beaufighter mission.
Click to expand...

Good stuff - I wonder if anyone has information on how many Beaufighters were lost to enemy aircraft?
 
I don't know exact stories of escorting Beaufighters, but I know in the CBI almost always Spitfires would be sent up with them for support. Even Mosquitos were sometimes escorted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Similar threads

Blackburn Firebrand and Bristol Brigand
Replies
18
Views
1K
GTX
M
Why Didn't The RAF use Beaufighters Instead of Typhoons In The ETO
2
Replies
29
Views
4K
MIflyer
M
No Blenheim, Beaufort, Beaufighter as we know it - Bristol makes 1-engined aircraft instead?
Replies
8
Views
1K
Shortround6
S
A
Bristol Brigand vs. DH Sea Hornet
Replies
8
Views
2K
Shortround6
S
G
Bristol Blenheim Romanian Royal Air Forces
Replies
17
Views
2K
Alex Smart
A
Menu
Log in
Register