Bristol Barbazon

[Subdeacon Joe]

https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/bristol-type-167/

 

 

 

The Bristol Aeroplane Company Type 167 Brabazon Mk.I was a very large low-wing monoplane, designed to carry 100 passengers on transatlantic flights. it had been named to honor John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara, the first man to fly an airplane in England, and a very important figure in the development of the British aeronautical industry.

 

The Type 167 was slightly larger than the United States Air Force Convair B-36A intercontinental strategic bomber. It was 177 feet, 0 inches (53.950 meters) long with a wingspan of 230 feet, 0 inches (70.104 meters) and overall height of 50 feet, 0 inches (15.240 meters). The fuselage had a maximum diameter of 25 feet (7.62 meters).

 

The leading edge of the inboard section of the Brabazon’s wing was swept 4° 16′ and had no dihedral, while the outer section was swept 14° 56′ with 2° dihedral. The wings had an angle of incidence of +3° 30′. The chord narrowed from 31 feet, 0 inches (9.449 meters) at the root, to 10 feet, 0 inches (3.048 meters) at the tip. The wings’ maximum thickness was 6 feet, 6 inches (1.981 meters). The Mk.I’s wing area was 5,317 square feet (494 square meters)

[J-BAR #18287]

I am not an aeronautical engineer.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of such long wings?

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

42 minutes ago, J-BAR #18287 said:

I am not an aeronautical engineer.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of such long wings?

They allow cruising at higher altitudes where the air is thin. They’re more expensive to manufacture. Back then, airports were generally much smaller, making ground maneuvering and storage more challenging. Not many hangars to accommodate it were available in those days. 
 

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

 

 .... looks like it's got two  twin contra-rotating propellers and four jet engines on each side ......  

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

1 hour ago, Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 said:

 

 .... looks like it's got two  twin contra-rotating propellers and four jet engines on each side ......  

those were intakes for the piston engines that drove the props - two engines per prop set, for eight total engines. 

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

32 minutes ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

those were intakes for the piston engines that drove the props - two engines per prop set, for eight total engines. 

 

 Thank you  

     ....... to me it looked a bit "belt and braces"

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

17 hours ago, Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 said:

 

 Thank you  

     ....... to me it looked a bit "belt and braces"

An apt description.