118 Bristol 188 (high speed research)

Bristol 188 (high speed research)

Number Built 3 (1 static 2 test prototypes)

Engine de Havilland Gyro Junior

Role Experimental

Date 1964

AIRCRAFT ALBUM

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The Bristol 188 is a British supersonic research aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Built mainly of stainless steel, this aircraft was designed to investigate the effects of heat on aircraft structures at very high speed. To protect the pilot against heat build up a special cockpit refrigeration

system was developed .

 

Nicknamed the Flying Pencil only two Bristol 188s ever flew a third being used for ground testing. The data collected could be relayed to the ground in real time, and was essential for the developement of the proposed Avro 730 high speed, high altitude, reconnaissance aircraft. The first SR 188 made its maiden flight on 14th April 1962 before its public debut at the September Farnborough Airshow

 

Both aircraft were powered by the new de Havilland Gyro Junior engine, the first British engine designed for sustained supersonicspeeds and data gained with this aplication was later applied to the Olypus engines used in Concorde

 

Although a maximum speed of Mach 1.88 was achieved it fell short of the target Mach 2, that along with fuel leaks, limited sustained endurance and the cancellation of the Avro730 led to the cancellation of the Bristol 188.in 1964

 

Many thanks for a fantabulous

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Shot 13.04.2016 at RAF Cosford Air Museum REF 115-118

 

Done