Bristol 93 Boarhound

& Beaver

The Bristol Boarhound was designed for the Army Cooperation role, as a potential replacement for the Bristol Fighter. The Type 93 Boarhound was a two-seat, two-bay biplane of all-metal construction with ailerons fitted only to the lower wings. It was built as a private venture against Air Ministry Specification 8/24 (supersesded by 20/25) and was designed by Bristol Chief Designer Frank Barnwell.

 

A significant amount of military equipment was required (radio, camera and message gear) in addition to a defensive armament of one fixed Vickers gun and one Scarff-mounted Lewis gun.

 

The prototype Boarhound (G-EBLG) was first flown on 8th June 1925 and it was evaluated unsuccessfully against the De Havilland Hyena and the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas, against Air Ministry Specification 8/24. 

 

A new prototype was also built with a modified engine installation and ailerons on all four wings with an eye to a contract to replace the DH9A in the day bomber role. This was the Type 93A Beaver (G-EBQF) which first flew on 23rd February 1927 and featured a revised fin and rudder and a prone bomb aiming position in the lower fuselage, to which the gunner / bomb aimer could move when required.

 

 

Sadly, it was was unsuccessful losing out to the Fairey IIIF which utilised the highly-favoured Napier Lion powerplant which were readily available from stock.

 

A modified Boarhound had been offered to Chile as a two-seat fighter-bomber but this was not proceeded with.

 

Additional component sets for two Type 93A Beaver aircraft had been manufactured in 1926 and these were subsequently assembled as two Type 93B Boarhound II for use as reconnaissance fighters by Mexico.

 

The Boarhound II was very similar to the Beaver with minor alterations to equipment, modified control surfaces and a small amount of wing sweep. The prone bomb aiming position was not required and was omitted on this type.

 

The two aircraft designated Type 93B Boarhound II (Bristol build numbers 7232 and 7233) were delivered to Mexico in January 1928, where they gave excellent service for several years as reconnaissance aircraft.