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Bristol P.B.8

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

P.B.8
Role Trainer
Manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company
Designer Henri Coandă
Introduction 1914
Retired 1914
Number built 1

The Bristol P.B.8, or Bristol-Coanda P.B.8', was an early British-built, Romanian-designed two-seat biplane trainer made by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1914. Only one was completed, which was never flown.

Design and development

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Romanian Henri Coandă, chief designer of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, developed the P.B.8 as a biplane trainer to replace the early Bristol Boxkite at the Bristol flying school at Brooklands, it was the only biplane designed by Coanda.[1] It was small biplane with equal span wings with ailerons on both the upper and lower wings.[1] The small cockpit had room for two in tandem, although access to the rear seat was restricted by the upper wing.[1] It inherited an unusual four-wheel landing gear from other Coanda designs like the T.B.8.[1] The aircraft was powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Gnome Lambda engine fitted at the rear of the cockpit nacelle and driving a pusher propeller.[1]

The design was started November 1913 but its construction was a low priority for the company and the completed aircraft was not delivered to Brooklands until July 1914.[1] The Gnome engine was requisitioned by the war office and removed from the aircraft before it had a chance to fly.[1]

Specifications (T.B.8)

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Data from [1]Bristol Aircraft Since 1910

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
  • Upper wingspan: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
  • Lower wingspan: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Lambda 7-cyl. air-cooled rotary piston engine, 80 hp (60 kW)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnes 1988, pp. 83-84
  • Barnes, Chris (1988). Bristol Aircraft since 1910. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-823-2.