(Bristol) 171 Sycamore @·AIRCRAFTUBE

  • Bristol 171 Sycamore of the Royal Australian Navy, taking off from HMAS Melbourne, circa 1960 Bristol 171 Sycamore of the Royal Australian Navy, taking off from HMAS Melbourne, circa 1960
    Bristol 171 Sycamore of the Royal Australian Navy, taking off from HMAS Melbourne, circa 1960
  • Sycamore HC14 of the Metropolitan Communications Squadron RAF Air Support Command, in 1968 Sycamore HC14 of the Metropolitan Communications Squadron RAF Air Support Command, in 1968
    Sycamore HC14 of the Metropolitan Communications Squadron RAF Air Support Command, in 1968
  • RAAF Bristol 171 Sycamore RAAF Bristol 171 Sycamore
    RAAF Bristol 171 Sycamore
  • Belgian Sycamore Mk.14B Belgian Sycamore Mk.14B
    Belgian Sycamore Mk.14B
  • Bristol Sycamore Mk.52 Bristol Sycamore Mk.52
    Bristol Sycamore Mk.52
  • Bristol Sycamore Mk.52 at Ahlhorn Air Force Base, Germany, 1979 Bristol Sycamore Mk.52 at Ahlhorn Air Force Base, Germany, 1979
    Bristol Sycamore Mk.52 at Ahlhorn Air Force Base, Germany, 1979
  • A Sycamore in front of the Brabazon hangars at Bristol Filton Airport A Sycamore in front of the Brabazon hangars at Bristol Filton Airport
    A Sycamore in front of the Brabazon hangars at Bristol Filton Airport
  • Bristol Sycamore HR50 Bristol Sycamore HR50
    Bristol Sycamore HR50
  • Malaysia, in the 1960s Malaysia, in the 1960s
    Malaysia, in the 1960s
  • A Bristol 171 at Cyprus A Bristol 171 at Cyprus
    A Bristol 171 at Cyprus
  • RAAF Bristol 171 Sycamore RAAF Bristol 171 Sycamore
    RAAF Bristol 171 Sycamore
  • Sycamore Mk.3A Sycamore Mk.3A
    Sycamore Mk.3A
  • Sycamore HR14 at the International Helicopter Museum Sycamore HR14 at the International Helicopter Museum
    Sycamore HR14 at the International Helicopter Museum
  • Bristol 171 Sycamore Bristol 171 Sycamore
    Bristol 171 Sycamore
  • Ansett-ANA Ansett-ANA
    Ansett-ANA
  • Nordholz Luftfahrtmuseum Nordholz Luftfahrtmuseum
    Nordholz Luftfahrtmuseum
  • Bristol 171 Sycamore Bristol 171 Sycamore
    Bristol 171 Sycamore
  • Sycamore Mk.52 of 32 Sqn, based at RAF Northolt Sycamore Mk.52 of 32 Sqn, based at RAF Northolt
    Sycamore Mk.52 of 32 Sqn, based at RAF Northolt
  • Sycamore HR14 of the Royal Air Force Central Flying School, in 1977 Sycamore HR14 of the Royal Air Force Central Flying School, in 1977
    Sycamore HR14 of the Royal Air Force Central Flying School, in 1977
  • Bristol 171 Mk.3A at London Gatwick - 1955 Bristol 171 Mk.3A at London Gatwick - 1955
    Bristol 171 Mk.3A at London Gatwick - 1955
  • Sycamore Mk.3A Sycamore Mk.3A
    Sycamore Mk.3A
  • West-German Sycamore Mk.14 at the 1958 Farnborough Air Show West-German Sycamore Mk.14 at the 1958 Farnborough Air Show
    West-German Sycamore Mk.14 at the 1958 Farnborough Air Show
  • Main gear box and rotor head Main gear box and rotor head
    Main gear box and rotor head
  • RAAF Bristol 171 Sycamore RAAF Bristol 171 Sycamore
    RAAF Bristol 171 Sycamore
  • Ansett-ANA Ansett-ANA
    Ansett-ANA

Bristol Sycamore

The Bristol Type 171 Sycamore was the first British-designed helicopter to fly and serve with the Royal Air Force. Created by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, it was used for search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare.

The name refers to the seeds of the Sycamore tree, Acer pseudoplatanus, which fall with a rotating motion.

Design and development

Bristol set up its Helicopter Division after the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944, when engineers from the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment at Beaulieu became available. The AFEE had been working on the development of helicopter designs under helicopter pioneer Raoul Hafner, but the success of Horsa and Hamilcar gliders during Operation Overlord led to helicopter development now being given a priority. Hafner was appointed by Bristol as head of this new helicopter division.

The design of the Sycamore commenced in June 1944, and extended over more than two years, with especial emphasis being given to the endurance of the mechanical components. The maiden flight took place on 27 July 1947, with the prototype VL958 powered by a 450 horsepower (340 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior (there being no suitable engine in the Bristol range). The prototype Sycamore Mk.2 was completed in the summer of 1948, fitted with a 550 horsepower (410 kW) Alvis Leonides engine; this became the standard for all subsequent Sycamore production.

Bristol's key development pilots for the Type 171 included Charles "Sox" Hosegood and Col. Robert "Bob" Smith, both test pilots with Bristol.

Versions of the Sycamore up to and including the Mk.3A kept to the standard two-seat aircraft layout of having the pilot in the left-hand seat and co-pilot in the right. The main production, the Mk.4, switched to the American standard practice of having the pilot's seat on the right. There were also a number of other developments from earlier versions, such as a four-door design, that were standardised for the Mk.4. This version entered RAF service as the HR14.

Civil versions did not use the name Sycamore, and were known simply as Bristol Type 171.

Operational history

The Sycamore HR14 entered service with 275 Squadron of the RAF in April 1953, and went on to serve with nine squadrons in total. It was used during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) for deploying Army foot patrols into the jungle. The type was used by the Royal Air Force Central Flying School for pilot training.

A total of 50 Sycamores were delivered to the German Federal Government, and three to the Belgian Government.

The Sycamore also has the distinction of being the second helicopter type to be used by the Australian Defence Force, when seven were delivered to the Royal Australian Navy.

The RAFs last Sycamores were officially retired in December 1971, as critical parts had reached the end of their fatigue life. However 32 Squadron continued to operate two Sycamores until August 1972.

Variants

Type 171

  • Mk 1 : Prototype; two built.
  • Mk 2 : Second prototype; one built.
  • Mk 3 : Production model with five-seats in a widened fuselages and a shortened nose to improve visibility. Fifteen built.
  • Mk 3A : Civilian version with additional freight hold, two built for British European Airways.
  • Mk 4 : This was the main production model and similar to the military version called Sycamore with a more powerful engine.

Sycamore

  • Sycamore HC10 : (=Mk.3) 1 built for evaluation by the Army Air Corps as an air ambulance.
  • Sycamore HC11 : (=Mk.3) 4 built for evaluation by the Army Air Corps, as communications aircraft.
  • Sycamore HR12 : (=Mk.3A) 4 built for the RAF for evaluation as search and rescue aircraft.
  • Sycamore HR13 : (=Mk.3A) 2 built with rescue winches for the RAF for evaluation as search and rescue aircraft.
  • Sycamore HR14 : (=Mk.4) 85 built for the RAF, as search and rescue aircraft.
  • Sycamore Mk 14 : 3 built for the Belgian Air Force, for use in the Belgian Congo.
  • Sycamore Mk 50 : 3 built for the Royal Australian Navy, for search and rescue, and plane guard duties.
  • Sycamore HC51 : 7 built for the Royal Australian Navy, for search and rescue, and plane guard duties.
  • Sycamore Mk 52 : 50 built for the German Army and Navy.

Civil operators

  • United Kingdom : British European Airways
  • Australia :
    • Australian National Airways/Ansett-ANA
    • Jayrow Helicopters
  • Austria : In 2013 the Flying Bulls by Red Bull reinstated one Sycamore

Military operators

  • Australia :
    • Royal Australian Air Force - Only two Sycamores were in service with the RAAF from 1951 to 1965. The two helicopters were used for general support duties at the Woomera Rocket Range in South Australia.
    • Royal Australian Navy
  • Belgian Air Force : Belgium used three Mk.14B's (registered as B1/OT-ZKA, B2/OT-ZKB & B3/OT-ZKC) to equip the metropolitan power in the Congo with a rescue flight based at Kamina Air Base, Katanga Province. Used between 1954 and 1960.
  • Germany
    • Luftwaffe
    • German Navy
  • United Kingdom
    • Royal Air Force
    • Army Air Corps

Surviving aircraft

The RAF Museum Cosford displays Sycamore XJ918. This aircraft saw active service in the Malayan Emergency and was one of the last four Sycamores to be officially retired from RAF service in 1971. It went to the RAF Museum Cosford in 1983.

Other Sycamores are at the Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg, (Bückeburg Helicopter Museum), Bückeburg Germany. The Fleet Air Arm Museum in the United Kingdom and the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels, Belgium the The Helicopter Museum (Weston).

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This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Bristol Sycamore of Wikipedia ( authors )

Specifications (Mk.4 / HR14)

  • Crew : Two.
  • Capacity : accommodation for three passengers.
  • Payload : 1,000 lb (454 kg).
  • Length : 61 ft 1¼ in (18.62 m).
  • Rotor diameter : 48 ft 7 in (14.8 m).
  • Height : 13 ft 10.6 in (4.23 m).
  • Empty weight : 3,810 lb (1,728 kg).
  • Loaded weight : 5,600 lb (2,540 kg).
  • Maximum speed : 132 mph (212 km/h).
  • Range : 330 mi (531 km).
  • Endurance : 3½ hours.
  • Powerplant : One Alvis Leonides piston engine
  • Power : 550 hp (410 kW).

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Bristol Sycamore of Wikipedia ( authors )
Bristol 171 Sycamore : Your comments on this subject
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