Bristol 173

The experimental Bristol 173 led to production of the Belvedere for the RAF

Fly-past by the prototype Bristol 173 G-ALBN

The Bristol Aeroplane Company Bristol 173 was a tandem rotor commercial helicopter design with a new passenger fuselage joining a pair of three-bladed Bristol Type 171 Sycamore rotor systems. The forward rotor was mounted above the cockpit with the rear one atop the rear fin structure.

The aircraft encountered problems in development with stability and control and both ground resonance and structural resonance which resulted in it being flown in three distinct configurations. The butterfly tail initially fitted provided excessive roll-yaw coupling and this was later replaced by a horizontal surface with tip fins.

The prototype 173 Mk 1 (G-ALBN) made its first hovering flight on 3rd January 1952, when the aircraft refused to transition to forward flight and sat backwards onto the runway. This problem was caused by an inadequate collective pitch range on the rear rotor. On its next flight, the aircraft encountered ground resonance on landing.

High vibration was experienced within the fuselage by what is described as 'a primary bending mode' which coincided with the frequency created by the rotor blades. As a result, new four blade rotors had to be fitted although this hugely delayed its first forward flight out of the hover.

During 1953, it carried out evaluation trials with the RAF (using the designation XF785) as well as sea trials with the Royal Navy on board HMS Eagle.

The second prototype Bristol 173 XH379 ground running

The second prototype Type 173 Mk 2 (G-AMJI / XH379) was flown with a pair of tandem stub wings fore and aft, to improve the cruise speed as well as a revised undercarriage. The stub wings were later removed during naval trials and replaced by an unswept tailplane.

The aircraft was then leased to British European Airways (BEA) for evaluation but the airline never exercised their option to buy the aircraft.

Sadly, the Mk 2 was destroyed in an air crash at Filton Air Show in 1956 although thankfully, all the crew members survived.

Second prototype Bristol 173 G-AMJI in winged configuration

The initial two prototypes were followed by three further evaluation prototypes of the 173 Mk 3, fitted with more powerful Leonides engines, four blade rotors and a taller vertical fin.

The first of these was hovered on 9th November 1956 although development problems and severe overheating resulted in the cancellation of the project in favour of the Bristol 192 Belvedere and no further test flying took place.

For subsequent developments, please refer to the Bristol Type 191 / 192 Belvedere.

Bristol 173 Image Gallery

Bristol 173 Mk 2 XH379

Bristol 173 G-ALBN

Bristol Type 173 (XF785) hovering at Filton

Bristol Belvedere (XG 461) lifts a Bloodhound missile complete with trailer

Bristol 173

Bristol Belvedere over a Bristol 401 sports car

Bristol 173

Bristol 173 on ground

Bristol 173 XF785

Bristol 173 XF785 aboard HMS Eagle for carrier trials

Bristol 173 G-ALBN

Specification

	Type 173 Mk 1	Type 173 Mk 3
Powerplant	Two 550 hp Alvis Leonides	Two 850 hp Alvis Leonides Major
Rotor diameter	Twin three blade 48 ft 7 in, later twin four blade 48 ft 9in	Twin four blade 48 ft 9in
Rotor diameter		Twin four blade 48 ft 9in
Max Weight	10,600 lb	13500 ib
Capacity	2 crew and 13 passengers	2 crew and 14 passengers
Cruise Speed	115 mph	115 mph
Range	185 miles	300 miles

Number built

5	1 x Mk 1 - 1 x Mk 2 - 3 x Mk 3 (only one of which was flown)

Survivors

G-ALBN / XF785

Held in store by Bristol Aero Collection for display at Filton www.aerospacebristol.org.uk

Bristol 173

Specification

Number built

Survivors

Other information