Bristol Brigand

Bristol Aeroplane Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1944 · bomber

The Bristol Brigand was a British twin-engine strike and torpedo bomber that entered RAF service after World War II, replacing the Beaufighter in the strike role.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	14.15 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Twin Centaurus radial engines in large nacelles on British strike aircraft
Mid-set tapered wing with torpedo capability
Three-crew layout with glazed nose section

A large, powerful-looking twin radial-engine aircraft with a broad mid-set wing; the massive Centaurus engine nacelles and three-crew fuselage with glazed nose distinguish it from the Beaufighter it replaced.

Specifications

The Bristol Brigand has a length of 14.15 m (46 ft).
It has a wingspan of 22 m (72 ft).
Its maximum speed is 575 km/h (357 mph).
Typical crew: 3.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed from 1942 as a Beaufighter successor, the Brigand flew in 1944 but entered service too late for the war. It subsequently served in Malaya during the Emergency from 1950, where it conducted strikes against communist guerrillas in the jungle.

Variants

The Brigand B.1 was the torpedo bomber version; the Brigand T.4 and T.5 were trainer variants used for crew training in the early jet age.

Where you'll see it

Served with the RAF in the Middle East and Far East Air Forces into the mid-1950s; best known for its operations during the Malayan Emergency.

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