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The Botha was designed for Coastal Command RAF as a three-seat twin-engined reconnaissance-bomber, able to carry a torpedo internally or up to 907kg of bombs. Defensive armament comprised a single 7.69mm Vickers machine-gun forward and a dorsal turret with two Lewis guns. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 28 December 1938 and the first production Bothas entered service with No 608 Squadron on 28 June 1940, but remained in first-line service only until November of that year. A handful of operational Bothas also went to No 502 Squadron, but were also withdrawn rapidly. Although the Botha was a failure as a torpedo-bomber - mainly due to being underpowered - large numbers served as pilot, navigation, bombing, gunnery and radio trainers until 1944.
 | A three-view drawing (670 x 624) |
| MODEL | B-26 "Botha" |
| CREW | 4 |
| ENGINE | 2 x Bristol Perseus XA, 694kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 8369 kg | 18451 lb |
| Empty weight | 5366 kg | 11830 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 17.98 m | 59 ft 0 in |
| Length | 15.58 m | 51 ft 1 in |
| Height | 4.46 m | 15 ft 8 in |
| Wing area | 48.12 m2 | 517.96 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 400 km/h | 249 mph |
| Cruise speed | 340 km/h | 211 mph |
| Ceiling | 5335 m | 17500 ft |
| Range | 2040 km | 1268 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 3 x 7.7mm machine-guns, 900kg bombs |
| leo rudnicki, leo_rudnicki(@)hotmail.com, 15.04.2009 Flying an ugly awkward unsteady underpowered aircraft in training makes you appreciate flying operational types all the more. This a/c was specified by the Air Ministry like most useless aircraft of this era. Fortunately, Bristols persisted with Beaufort/Taurus. |
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COMPANY
PROFILE
FACTS AND FIGURES© The position or the engine
nacelles and the high wing
prevented the pilot from seeing
much to either side or the rear. © The short, tapered wings did not
provide enough lift for the Botha
to carry anything heavy very far. © The cockpit was very poorly designed.
It was possible for a pilot flying solo to
knock the fuel tank switches off but still
start the engines, leading to engine
failure a short time into the flight. © The Botha had a high-drag Frazer-Nash dorsal turret
as seen on many Sunderlands and some Stirlings. As
well as the two guns in this turret there was a single
forward-firing gun operated by the pilot.
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