The Bristol Type 84 Bloodhound was designed by Wilfrid T. Reid according to Air Ministry specification 3/22 for a two-seat fighter. Its first flight took place in May 1923. It was a biplane featuring a welded steel tube fuselage, wooden wings, and a 425 hp Bristol Jupiter IV engine.
The aircraft’s armament consisted of two front-mounted, synchronized 7.7mm Vickers machine guns. Additionally, it carried one movable 7.7mm Lewis machine gun on a Scarff ring in the rear cockpit.
Initial Development and Testing
Following factory trials, the Air Ministry issued an order for the construction of three more aircraft, one of which was to be all-metal. All three aircraft were fitted with the same engines as the prototype, with the third incorporating an RAE-type supercharger. These machines were delivered for testing at Martlesham and Farnborough from March to September 1925.
The results of these trials led to the decision to abandon production of the aircraft. Instead, the Air Ministry opted for the De Havilland Dormouse as the preferred alternative.
Record-Breaking Flights and Research
The first prototype, bearing registration number G-EBGG, was utilized by the company’s factory for research purposes. Specifically, it was used to test Bristol Jupiter V and VI engines.
Equipped with the latter engine, the aircraft covered 25,074 miles in 225 hours and 45 minutes on the Filton-Croydon route without a single engine repair. Subsequently, it made a flight to Cairo across the desert, covering 5,400 miles in 56 hours.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | Bloodhound |
| Wingspan, m | 12.24 |
| Length, m | 8.08 |
| Height, m | 3.25 |
| Wing area, m2 | 45.89 |
| Empty weight | 1141 |
| Normal takeoff weight | 1921 |
| Engine type | 1 Piston engine Bristol Jupiter IV |
| Power, hp | 1 x 425 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 209 |
| Cruising speed, km/h | 174 |
| Flight endurance, h | 3 |
| Service ceiling, m | 6706 |
| Crew, crew members | 2 |
| Armament | two forward 7.7-mm Vickers machine guns, one 7.7-mm Lewis machine gun |
Image and diagram gallery of the Bristol Type 84 Bloodhound
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