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Bristol High-Altitude Monoplane 138A

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Description

In 1933, Frank Barnwell of the Bristol Aeroplane Company proposed a high-altitude monoplane that would put Bristol in the same league as other record-setting aircraft manufacturers.  In cooperation with various government departments (Air Ministry, Royal Air Force, Royal Aircraft Establishment, National Physical Laboratory), Bristol built the Type 138 monoplane, whose only flying aircraft (138A) was powered by a 500-horsepower Pegasus radial engine.  To protect the pilots, Sir Robert Davis of the Siebe-Gorman diving-equipment company and physiology/gas expert Professor John Scott Haldane developed a pressure suit and helmet. 

On September 28, 1936, RAF Squadron Leader F.R.D. Swain took 138A on its maiden flight.  Swain was recorded by the FAI as having reached 49,967 feet (15,230 meters), though his instruments read 51,000 feet (15,440 meters).  After the Italians broke that record, the RAF sent 138A on six more flights, and the monoplane reached an impressive 53,937 feet (16,440 meters) under the command of Flight Lieutenant M.J. Adam on June 30, 1937.  The companion aircraft, 138B, was built but never given an engine, and was used as a static trainer.  A model of 138A is on display at the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum (Saitama, Japan).
Image size
3254x2079px 1.4 MB
Make
NIKON
Model
COOLPIX S6300
Shutter Speed
10/300 second
Aperture
F/3.8
Focal Length
8 mm
ISO Speed
400
Date Taken
Mar 12, 2015, 11:36:41 PM
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Comments5
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LNMman's avatar
Very cool. Thanks for the interesting bit of history.