Bristol Type 171 Sycamore Mk 1
Bristol Aeroplane Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1947 · helicopter
The Bristol Type 171 Sycamore Mk 1 is the prototype and initial development variant of Britain's first successful indigenous helicopter. Designed by Raoul Hafner's team at Bristol, it established the configuration that led to the production Sycamore used by the RAF.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Single Alvis Leonides piston engine in fuselage nose |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Britain's first indigenous production helicopter
- Single Alvis Leonides piston engine in fuselage nose
- Three-blade main rotor with characteristic slim tailboom
A conventionally configured single-engine helicopter with a three-blade main rotor, piston engine in the nose cowling, and a slender tailboom with a small anti-torque rotor; the squared cabin windows distinguish it from later marks.
Specifications
- The Bristol Type 171 Sycamore Mk 1 has a length of 14.07 m (46 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.81 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 204 km/h (127 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + 4 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Type 171 first flew in July 1947, powered by an Alvis Leonides radial engine. Early marks were evaluation aircraft; the Mk 1 and Mk 2 were pre-production examples that proved the design concept and led to the Mk 3 and HC Mk 14 production variants ordered by the RAF and other services.
Variants
The Type 171 series progressed through Mk 1, Mk 2, Mk 3, and the military HC Mk 14; the HC Mk 10 designation was applied to one specific export variant.
Where you'll see it
The Mk 1 served only as a trials and development aircraft; it did not enter operational service but paved the way for the production Sycamore used by the RAF, Royal Australian Navy, and Bundeswehr.
Related aircraft
- Bristol Type 171 Sycamore
- Sycamore
- Bristol 170 Freighter
- Bristol Brabazon
- Kaman K-225
- Kamov Ka-8 Irkutyanin
- McDonnell XH-20 Little Henry
- Sikorsky HOS-1
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