Stirling

Short Brothers · United Kingdom · first flew 1939 · bomber

The Short Stirling was the first four-engine heavy bomber to enter RAF service, distinctive for its towering undercarriage and short-span wing.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	4 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Deep slab-sided fuselage with nose, dorsal and tail power turrets
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Very tall, spindly twin-leg undercarriage giving great ground clearance
Long, thick wing of deliberately limited span to fit RAF hangars
Deep slab-sided fuselage with nose, dorsal and tail power turrets

The very tall undercarriage, stubby short-span wing and deep fuselage with three turrets mark it out among British four-engine bombers.

Specifications

The Stirling has a length of 26.59 m (87 ft).
It has a wingspan of 30.2 m (99 ft).
Its maximum speed is 454 km/h (282 mph).
Typical crew: 7-8.

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

History

First flown in 1939, the Stirling was hamstrung by an Air Ministry requirement limiting its wingspan to around 30 metres so it would fit existing hangars, which capped its operating altitude. Its great length and tall stance made it an awkward but capable early war bomber.

Variants

Bomber marks gave way to dedicated transport and glider-tug versions as newer heavies arrived. Power came from four Bristol Hercules radials.

Where you'll see it

The Stirling served RAF Bomber Command from early 1941 before being relegated to mine-laying, glider towing and supply roles as the Lancaster and Halifax took over the main bombing effort. No complete original Stirling survives today.

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