With UK aircraft production solely concentrated on military requirements during the Second World War, the provision for the production of transport aircraft was the province of the American allies, who produced such notable designs as the DC-3, DC-4 and C-69 Constellation. With the coming of peace, Britain found itself with no modern commercial aircraft either in production or at the design stage other than the simple conversion of military transport aircraft for civil use.
Nevertheless, a committee (under Lord Brabazon of Tara) set out the specifications for a number of civil transport types and delivered a report now known as the 'Brabazon Report' calling for the production of aircraft in four design configurations:
• Type 1 - a very large trans-Atlantic airliner
• Type 2 - a short haul airliner
• Type 3 - a medium size airliner for European routes
• Type 4 - a jet-powered 500 mph airliner
Bristol Aeroplane Company had already gained experience in the design of heavy bombers during the 1930s although the war had diverted its attention into the production of multi-role aircraft such as the Bristol Beaufort. Following the publication of the report it embarked on the most ambitious of the categories (Type 1) calling for a trans-Atlantic airliner - the design that was to emerge was the Bristol Type 167 Brabazon I.
Thinking at the time suggested that the more wealthy passenger would consider air travel over lengthy sea voyages if the experience was made significantly more comfortable. As a result, a key feature of the design, apart from its unprecedented size, was the use of eight engines buried in the wings, coupled in pairs, driving four sets of contra-rotating propellers, which would give a very low noise level in the passenger cabin.
Another design feature, which reflected a view that only those with deep pockets and accustomed to comfort were likely to fly across the Atlantic, was the generous space provided for the passengers. This huge aircraft was initially designed around the carriage of 96 day passengers, or 52 in sleeping compartments, and included bars, walkways and even a cinema.
Nowadays it is difficult to appreciate the sheer size of the Bristol 167 Brabazon - a tailplane span of 75 ft perhaps speaks volumes, as much as the 230 ft wingspan (19 ft greater than a Boeing 747-400). The undercarriage track was 55 ft (the undercarriage development requiring the assistance of its own Avro Lincoln test aircraft!).
One lasting legacy of the huge dimensions of the Brabazon is the 7½ acre Brabazon Assembly Hall, some 1,052 ft long, 410 ft maximum width, and 117 ft high, which is still in use at Filton today.
The sole prototype (G-AGPW) was flown for the first time by A.J. (Bill) Pegg at Filton on 2nd September 1949, fitted out with test equipment rather than passenger seats. To the surprise of some sceptics, the Brabazon proved easy to fly, and to manoeuvre on the ground.
Four days after its maiden flight, the Brabazon appeared at the SBAC Show at Farnborough before embarking on its test programme. It returned to Farnborough in 1950, after visiting Heathrow Airport for a succession of take-offs and landings. In 1951, it demonstrated at the Paris Air Show and although it created significant intrigue, its expected launch customer BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) had by now lost interest in the type. Despite this, BEA (British European Airways) had expressed interest in acquiring the flying prototype for commercial use, but sadly it was never granted a full airworthiness certificate.
A Bristol Brabazon I Mk II variant was considered, planning to utilise four double Proteus engines, and although construction began, this aircraft was never completed for flight. By 1952, expenditure was estimated to be around £3.4 million and yet there were still no signs that the market predicted by the Brabazon report would materialise. By 1953, the costs had escalated even further to £6 million and with another £2 million needed to complete the Brabazon Mk II prototype, the Ministry of Supply announced the cancellation of the project. The prototype was broken up in October 1953, after only 400 flying hours, in part due to an inadequate projected fatigue life.
Despite the Bristol 167 Brabazon being often thought of as a 'White Elephant', much of the expenditure was on the creation of the projects supporting infrastructure. One direct beneficiary of the work instigated by the Brabazon was the Bristol Britannia programme, which was able to use the enormous production facilities for that aircrafts manufacture.
Later developments also fully justified the development of very large commercial aircraft for long range passenger flight, albeit with considerably more passengers and less space than was offered by the Brabazon. It is also thought that as a result of the Bristol 167 Brabazon, Filton along with its sister facility at Broughton (Cheshire), became synonymous with the science involved in the wing technology. This has been continued through Airbus and in particular, their A380 which is the largest passenger carrying aircraft in the world.