Bristol Belvedere

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Type 192 Belvedere
The Bristol Type 192 Belvedere tandem rotor helicopter.
Type	Cargo helicopter
Manufacturer	Bristol Aeroplane Company
Maiden flight	1958-07-05
Introduced	1961
Retired	1969
Primary user	RAF
Number built	26

The Bristol Type 192 Belvedere is a British twin-engined, tandem rotor military helicopter built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was designed for a variety of transport roles including troop transport, supply dropping and casualty evacuation. It was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1961 to 1969.

Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 4.1 Civil operators 4.2 Military operators 5 Survivors 5.1 Type 173 5.2 Belvedere HC.1 6 Specifications (HC.1) 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Design and development

The Belvedere was based on the Bristol Type 173 10-seat (later 16-seat) civil helicopter which first flew on 3 January 1952. The 173 project was cancelled in 1956 and Bristol spent time on the Type 191 and Type 193 to Royal Navy and Canadian specifications. The RAF expressed an interest in the aircraft and the Type 192 Belvedere was created. The first Type 192 prototype XG447 flew on 5 July 1958 with tandem wooden rotor blades, a completely manual control system and a castored, fixed quadricycle undercarriage. From the fifth prototype, the rotors fitted were all-metal, 4 bladed units. Production model controls and instruments allowed night operations.

Twenty-six Belvederes were built entering service as the Belvedere HC Mark 1 The Belvederes were originally designed for naval use but were later adapted to carry eighteen fully equipped troops with a total load capacity of 6,000 lb. The two rotors were synchronised through a shaft allowing the aircraft to operate through only one engine in the event of an emergency.

[edit] Operational history

The first prototype Belvedere went to the Belvedere Trials Unit at RAF Odiham, which was subsequently reformed as 66 Squadron RAF in 1961. Engine starter problems caused trouble early on but operational deployment continued. The prototype saw service in Europe, Africa, South Arabia and Borneo. XG447 was broken up at Boscombe Down on 7 August 1966.

As well as 66 Squadron, the type was deployed to 72 Squadron in 1961 and 26 Squadron in 1962 all at RAF Odiham. 26 Squadron later transferred to RAF Khormaskar where it disbanded in November 1965. The helicopters were transferred by HMS Albion to Singapore to join 66 Squadron until the squadron was disbanded in 1969. 72 Squadron kept its Belvederes until August 1964 when it exchanged them for Westland Wessex. ^[1]

[edit] Variants

Type 173 Mk 1

First prototype.

Type 173 Mk 2

Second prototype.

Type 173 Mk 3

Three more prototypes.

Type 191

Projected naval version. Never built.

Type 192

Military transport helicopter for the Royal Air Force, under designation 'Belvedere HC.Mk 1.

[edit] Operators

[edit] Civil operators

 United Kingdom

• British European Airways - (Bristol Type 173)

[edit] Military operators

 United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force
  • No. 26 Squadron RAF
  • No. 66 Squadron RAF
  • No. 72 Squadron RAF

[edit] Survivors

The following Bristol Belvederes have been preserved and are either on display or currently undergoing restoration.

[edit] Type 173

XF785 on display at Bristol Aero Collection, Kemble

[edit] Belvedere HC.1

• XG452 undergoing restoration at The Helicopter Museum, Weston-Super-Mare
• XG454 on display at Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
• XG474 on display at Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon
• XG462 (Nose section only) The Helicopter Museum, Weston-Super-Mare

[edit] Specifications (HC.1)

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Capacity:
  
  • 30 seats or
  • 18 fully-equipped troops
• Payload: 6,000 lb (2,700 kg)
• Length: 54 ft 4 in (16.56 m)
• Rotor diameter: 48 ft 11 in (14.9 m)
• Height: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
• Empty weight: 11,085 lb (5,028 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 19,000 lb (8,600 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Napier Gazelle turboshaft, 1,465 hp (1,092 kW) each

Performance

• Cruise speed: 138 mph (119 kn, 222 km/h)
• Range: 400 NM (460 mi, 720 km)
• Service ceiling 23,000 ft (7,000 m)

[edit] See also

Comparable aircraft

• CH-46 Sea Knight
  

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the RAF
  

[edit] References

notes

Bibliography

[edit] External links

• Bristol Belvedere helis.com helicopter database
• Belvedere at British Aircraft Directory

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