Bristol 99

Badminton

The Bristol Type 99 Badminton was a single engine racing biplane designed by Frank Barnwell and built on a private venture basis by Bristol Aeroplane Company to promote the Bristol Jupiter engine.

 

The Bristol Type 99 Badminton (G-EBMK) was first flown on 5th May 1926, with a 510 hp Bristol Jupiter VI engine. The wingspan of just over 24 ft meant that the Bristol Type 99 Badminton was a very compact and powerful aircraft. It had the same wing span as the famous German Bucker Jungmann aerobatic trainer of the 1930s, but featured nearly five times the installed power.

 

 

It took part in the 1926 King's Cup Air Race but fuel feed problems caused its early retirement. 

 

Later that year however, the aircraft was flown with a modified fuel system, a revised centre section and pilot’s windscreen when it was tested with the Bristol Orion (Jupiter VII) engine.

 

For the 1927 race, tapered wings were fitted with an increased span of 33 ft, using I-shaped interplane struts. In this guise, the machine was known as the Bristol Type 99A Badminton and was powered by a turbocharged 525 hp Bristol Jupiter VI engine.

 

 

It gained a Certificate of Airworthiness on 26th July 1927 but sadly just 2 days later, the aircraft suffered a total engine failure just after take-off from Filton and the pilot, Capt. Frank Barnard, was killed in the subsequent forced landing.