Bristol Brownie

Type 91 Brownie

Role	Sports aircraft
Manufacturer	Bristol Aeroplane Company
Designer	Frank Barnwell
First flight	6 August 1924
Number built	3

The Bristol Type 91 Brownie was a light sports aircraft produced in the United Kingdom by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1924. It was a low-wing cantilever monoplane aircraft of conventional configuration with fixed tailskid undercarriage. The pilot and passenger sat in tandem open cockpits. It won the £1,000 pound prize for second place at the Lympne light aircraft trials in October 1924.

Design

Bristol had not built an aircraft to compete in the 1923 Lympne light aircraft trials, which had been for aircraft with engines of 750 cc or less, making use of Bristol's Cherub engine impossible. The rules were changed for the 1924 trials, permitting engines of up to 1,100 cc to be used, and accordingly Frank Barnwell started design work on a competitor early in 1924. He produced studies for alternative wood and metal aircraft, and after consideration of these the Board of Bristol Aircraft authorised the production of two aircraft on 4 February, adding a third on 5 May. All three aircraft had a similar fuselage, made of wire-braced high-tensile steel tubing, but for experimental purposes three different wing designs were produced: a 34 ft 7in (10.54m) span wooden wing and two different metal wings, one of 36 ft 7 in (11.15 m) span of all-steel construction, the other, intended for high-speed use, of 30 ft 7 in (9.32 m) span with combined steel and duralumin construction. To satisfy the rules of the competition the wings had to be readily detachable and the aircraft fitted with dual controls.

The three aircraft were registered G-EBJK, G-EBJL and G-EBJM on 14 July, and immediately named Jack, Jill and Jim. G-EBJK, fitted with the wooden wings, was the first flown, on 6 Aug piloted by Cyril Uwins. It performed and handled so well that a second flight was immediately made by Frank Barnwell, followed by a third by Uwins and Barnwell together. G-EBJL, which had the large metal wings fitted, first flew on 22 September and G-EBJM, completed as a single-seater with a long-range tank and the smaller metal wings, followed on 4 September.

All took part in the trials, which took place between 27 September and 4 October. Uwins, flying 'JK, winning second prize in the main trials. 'JL, to be flown by T.W. Campbell, was withdrawn because of aileron flutter, and Campbell in 'JM won third place in the Grosvenor Cup race, averaging over 70 mph.

Development

After the Lympne trials 'JK and 'JL were delivered to Martlesham Heath for evaluation as a primary trainer, but did not impress the Air Ministry enough for any development to be funded by them.

G-EBJK was returned to Filton for modifications in December 1925. It was fitted with the newly developed 36 hp Cherub III mounted slightly lower in the fuselage, and the top longerons were curved down more to improve the view from the rear cockpit. The fuel tank was enlarged and it was fitted with new metal wings giving it a span of 37 ft 7 in (11.45 m). This was designated Type 91A.

After further trials at Martlesham it was again returned to Filton, where the engine mounting was further lowered and a Fairey-Reed duralmin propeller fitted. Additionally, a curved decking was added to the rear fuselge, and it was fitted with an enlarged horn-balanced rudder and a new undercarriage using rubber shock absorbers. This was designated Type 91 B, or Brownie II. In this form the aircraft took place in the 1926 Lympne trials, where Uwins won the third place prize of £500.

Specifications (Brownie I, wooden wing)

Data from Bristol Aircraft Since 1910^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: one (pilot)
Capacity: one passenger
Length: 26 ft 3 in (8.0 m)
Wingspan: 34 ft 7 in (10.54 m)
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Wing area: 204 ft² (19 m²)
Empty weight: 500 lb (227 kg)
Loaded weight: 870 lb (395 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Cherub I two-cylinder horizontally opposed, 32 hp (24 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 70 mph (113 km/h)
Range: 100 mi (160 km)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bristol Brownie.

Notes

↑ Barnes 1964, p.193.

Bibliography

Barnes, C.H. (1964). Bristol Aircraft Since 1910 (First ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-823-2.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 206. ISBN 9781851703241.

Bristol Aeroplane Company aircraft

Pre-numbering
scheme

Manufacturer
designations

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By role

Fighters	Scout M.1 Monoplane F.2 Fighter Badger Jupiter Fighter Bagshot Bulldog Bullfinch Type 123 Type 133 Beaufighter

Passenger Transports	Tourer Ten-Seater Taxiplane Pullman Type 142 Britain First Brabazon Britannia

Reconnaissance	Bloodhound

Trainer	Bristol Boxkite Bristol Coanda Monoplanes T.B.8 P.B.8 Primary Trainer Buckmaster

Transports	Bombay Brandon Buckingham Freighter Superfreighter

Experimental	X.2 X.3 Bullet Racer Type 92 Type 138 Type 188 Type 221

Bombers	Braemar Berkeley Bombay Blenheim Beaufort Buckingham Brigand

Sporting	Babe Brownie

Helicopters	Sycamore Type 173 Belvedere

Designers

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