Bristol Bolingbroke
Fairchild Aircraft Canada · Canada · first flew 1939 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Bolingbroke was a maritime patrol aircraft and trainer used by the Royal Canadian Air Force, a licence-built version of the Bristol Blenheim Mk IV.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.03 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin Mercury radial engines on the wing
- Glazed nose lengthened for the bombardier, scooped out on the upper left for pilot view
- Three-man crew
It looks like a Blenheim IV, with twin radials and a long glazed nose.
Specifications
- The Bristol Bolingbroke has a length of 13.03 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.17 m (56 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 463 km/h (288 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Fairchild Aircraft Ltd of Quebec started production of the Blenheim IV as the Bolingbroke, the name originally intended for the Blenheim IV. The type first flew on 14 September 1939.
Variants
After a small run to British specifications as the Mk I, production switched to the Mk IV with Canadian and American instruments, anti-icing boots and a dinghy.
Where you'll see it
It served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War and was nicknamed the Bolly.
Related aircraft
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