BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER

Manufacturer       (Principal):                                                                               Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol and Weston-super-Mare
  
                   (Subcontracted to):Fairey Aviation Ltd.
  
Manufacturer Designation:Type 156
  
Aircraft Mk.VIF – with AI Mk. VIII radar.
  
RAF Designation:Night fighter.
  
Construction:All metal stressed skin.
  
Crew:Two
  
Wing Span:57ft. 10ins.
  
Length:41ft. 8in.
  
Height:15ft. 0in.
  
Engine:1,670bhp Bristol Hercules VI (2Nr.)
  
Maximum: 
  
Weight: 
  
Empty:14,600 lbs.
  
Loaded:21,600 lbs.
  
Range:1,480 miles
  
Bomb Load:N/A
  
Armament:20mm Hispano cannon (in nose) 4 Nr. .303 Browning machine gun (3 in each wing) 6 Nr.
  
Speed: 
  
Maximum:333 mph at 15,600ft.
  
Cruising:                                 (1)243mph.
  
Service Ceiling Height:26,500ft.
  
Initial Rate of Climb:7.8 min to 15,000 ft.
  
Bradwell Bay Service: 
  
Squadron:29
  
Motto:Impiger et acer (Energetic and keen)
  
Code:RO
  
Dates:March – May1943
  
Colour Scheme.Matte Black
  
Missions:Night fighter – Home Defence
  
Aircraft Nickname/s:Beau
  
Technical data: Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918 by Owen Thetford, unless otherwise indicated
(1) www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_beaufighter_variants.html