Bristol 75 ten seater

Born of a British Treasury decision to subsidize the development of a number of approved air transport companies, the Bristol Type 62 Ten-Seater was originally to have been a six passenger aircraft (with a crew of two) and powered by a Bristol Jupiter engine. Early in 1921, however, this powerplant had yet to receive type approval, and when a 450 hp (336 kW) Napier Lion became available the basic design was scaled up to carry a pilot and nine passengers.

The first aircraft, erected from one of four sets of detail components which were manufactured simultaneously, made its first flight on 21st June 1921. Manufacturer's trials followed, and the only major modification was the removal of the front set of wheels, the main landing gear originally comprising two sets in tandem, the rear pair being braked. The aircraft flew a number of experimental services after its arrival at Croydon on 8th July 1921, and during the following month was flown to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath. Purchased by the Air Council in December, it was later taken over by the Instone Air Line for use on the London-Paris route, and was later operated for a time by Handley Page Transport Ltd.

variants

Type 75: Continued development of the Jupiter engine finally resulted in the award of type approval in September 1921 and a hinged, easily-accessible 'power-egg' installation was evolved by Roy Fedden and Wilfrid Reid for the second Ten-Seater, the Type 75; first flown in June 1922, this was purchased by the Instone Air Line in February 1924, together with the incomplete fourth airframe for use as spares; when Instone became part of the Imperial Airways organization, which used only multi-engined aircraft for passenger services, it was converted for use as a freighter capable of carrying a payload of 1,800 lb (816 kg), it entered service on the London-Cologne route on 22nd July 1924, redesignated Type 75A Express Freight Carrier, but was withdrawn from use in 1926.

Type 79 Brandon: The third airframe was also fitted with a Bristol Jupiter engine and was completed, after some redesign, as the Brandon troop-carrier and ambulance aircraft it also featured new shorter-span (54 ft 1 in/16.48 m) wings of broader chord, and could carry two stretchers and four seated patients, or three stretchers and a medical attendant.

Power Plant: One 425 h.p. Bristol Jupiter IV
Span: 56 ft 0 in
Length: 40 ft 6 in
Height: 11 ft 0 in
Weight (All-Up): 6,755 lb
Max Speed: 110 m.p.h.
Cruise: 100 m.p.h.
Crew: 2
Passengers: 8