Bristol Type 133

[johnbr]

Bristol Type 133 | BAE Systems | International The Bristol Type 133 after its first flight, showing open cockpit and full span ailerons/flaps. A side view of the Type 133 R-10 fitted with an enclosed cockpit canopy. The Bristol Type 133 looked elegant in flight, like a precursor of the Vought Corsair. The promising Bristol Type 133 came to a sad end during its spinning trials.

 

[johnbr]

Specification PowerplantOne 640 hp Bristol Mercury VIS.2 Span39 ft 0 inMaximum Weight4,738 lbCapacity and armamentPilot only; four forward firing Vickers machine gunsMaximum Speed260 mph equipped
Variants
Single example only, flown marked as R-10
The Bristol 133 was a prototype single-seat monoplane fitted with a single engine and retractable undercarriage. It was the company's second offering (after the Goshawk-powered Type 123 biplane) against Specification F.7/30 for a four-gun day and night fighter.

The type used a 620hp Bristol Mercury VI engine and was of inverted gull-wing configuration with fairings for the retractable main wheels mounted from the 'knuckle' of the wing.

The Type 133 (R-10) was first flown by Cyril Unwins with an open cockpit on 8th June 1934 - a cockpit enclosure being subsequently fitted. Other striking features included a monocoque rear fuselage and (initially) full span ailerons that could be symmetrically drooped as flaps.
The aircraft later reverted to more conventional ailerons with split flaps under the centre-section. The clean engine cowling featured a long-chord Townend-ring cowling, with an integral exhaust collector-ring.
Sadly the Type 133 did not reach Martlesham Heath for official trials, being lost in a spinning accident on 8th March 1935 with the pilot escaping by parachute. The problem occurred whilst spinning with the undercarriage down. It was evident that the aircraft was in a flat spin and it had very little forward speed when it reached the ground.

 

[johnbr]

 

[Capt. Vick]

Oh my God, it's so ugly...I love it!

 

[Wurger]

I agree. I like it too.

 

[johnbr]

 

[Gnomey]

Cool shots!