Boulton Paul Bittern
Boulton Paul · United Kingdom · first flew 1927 · fighter
The Boulton Paul Bittern was a 1920s British single-seat night fighter. It was unusual for its time in being a twin-engined shoulder-wing monoplane rather than a single-engine biplane.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Lewis guns in swivelling barbettes either side of the fuselage on the second prototype |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engined shoulder-wing monoplane, unusual for a 1920s night fighter
- Two Armstrong Siddeley Lynx radials carried on the wing
- Lewis guns in swivelling barbettes either side of the fuselage on the second prototype
A twin-engined shoulder-wing monoplane with engines on the wing, strut bracing and dark green paint with black undersides.
Specifications
- The Boulton Paul Bittern has a length of 9.86 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.5 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 233 km/h (145 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed to Air Ministry Specification 27/24 and first flew in February 1927. Two prototypes were built.
Variants
The first prototype had cantilever wings that proved too flexible, so struts were added. The second had its engines suspended from the wings on struts, a wingspan about 1.5 m greater, and Lewis guns in swivelling barbettes.
Where you'll see it
Trials at Martlesham Heath found the top speed of 145 mph too slow, and further development was abandoned.
Related aircraft
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