Boulton & Paul P.71A
Boulton Paul Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1934 · transport aircraft
The Boulton Paul P.71A was a British twin-engine monoplane mailplane prototype developed as an improved successor to the P.64, designed to carry airmail rapidly over medium-range routes. It achieved a higher performance than most British civil aircraft of its time.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.46 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British inter-war twin-engine mailplane prototype
- Development of the P.64 with improved engines
- Evaluated for Imperial Airways mail routes
Similar to the P.64 in general layout — a twin-engine low-wing monoplane — but slightly larger and cleaner in detail, with Armstrong Siddeley or Bristol engines in neat cowlings.
Specifications
- The Boulton & Paul P.71A has a length of 13.46 m (44 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.46 m (54 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 314 km/h (195 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1934, the P.71A incorporated lessons from the P.64 and offered better performance with uprated engines. Despite its capability, it did not win production orders from Imperial Airways.
Variants
A single prototype only; no production run followed.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by Imperial Airways but not ordered into service.
Related aircraft
- Boulton Paul P.64 Mailplane
- Boulton Paul P.75 Overstrand
- Boulton Paul Defiant
- Boulton Paul P.92
- Arado Ar 77
- CANT Z.501 Gabbiano
- Caproni Ca.133
- Caudron C.440 Goéland
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.