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Bristol Bolingbroke IVT

The Bristol Bolingbroke IVT View of the Bristol Bolingbroke IVT cockpit

The Bolingbroke was a Canadian version of the Bristol Blenheim IV light bomber, which in turn had been developed from the civilian prototype Bristol 142. Although begun in England, the Bolingbroke name was dropped, except in Canada where they were built at Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. There were three versions made, including a floatplane (only one was built). After early RCAF service on coastal patrol, Bolingbrokes served through the war as bombing and gunnery trainers and as target tugs in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan .

Production of this aircraft, with its modern, stressed skin design, initially caused some difficulty for Canadian workers, who had no previous experience with this type of construction. Following the war, some Bolingbrokes were sold as war surplus. Thirteen are known to be in museum collections around the world.

Museum Example

Taken on strength with the RCAF in April 1942, this aircraft was sold as war surplus in 1945 and stored on Saltspring Island in British Columbia. It was donated to the RCAF for the Museum in 1964.

Specifications

Wing Span:
17.2 m (56 ft 4 in)
Length:
13 m (42 ft 9 in)
Height:
3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Weight, Empty:
4,065 kg (8,963 lb)
Weight, Gross:
6,576 kg (14,500 lb)
Cruising Speed:
344 km/h (214 mph)
Max Speed:
422 km/h (262 mph)
Rate of Climb:
3,050 m (10,000 ft) / 6.6 min
Service Ceiling:
8,660 m (28,400 ft)
Range:
3,138 km (1,950 mi)
Power Plant:
two Bristol Mercury XV, 920 hp, radial engines

Additional Photographs

The Canada Aviation Museum’s Image Bank contains additional photographs of this aircraft. Images are provided for non-commercial study or research purposes only and may not be reproduced or published without the prior consent of the Canada Aviation Museum.

Find out more about our Image bank here.