Bristol 164 Brigand

1944

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Bristol 164 Brigand

The Brigand was designed as a twin-engined three-seat long-range attack aircraft capable of fulfilling the duties of a torpedo-bomber, dive-bomber and fighter to replace the Beaufighter. It used wings, landing gear, engine nacelles and tail unit of a similar type to those of the Buckingham. The prototype first flew on 4 December 1944. Although the first 11 aircraft were delivered as TF.1 torpedo-bombers to Coastal Command, in 1947 the Mk 1 was remodelled as a three-seat general-purpose bomber and most of the remaining 132 production Brigands were delivered as B.1. However a few saw service as Brigand Mk 2 training aircraft for radar navigators and Met Mk 3 meteorological reconnaissance aircraft.

The Brigand served with the RAF from 1949 until 1958, seeing action in Malaya during the early 1950s. Power was provided by two 1,841kW Bristol Centaurus 57 engines, giving a max speed of 576km/h.

3-View 
Brigand B.I Type 164A three-view drawing of Brigand B.I Type 164 (800 x 800)

Specification 
 MODELBristol "Brigand" B.1
 CREW3
 ENGINE2 x Centaurus 57, 1842kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight17690 kg39000 lb
  Empty weight11610 kg25596 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan22.05 m72 ft 4 in
  Length14.15 m46 ft 5 in
  Height5.33 m18 ft 6 in
  Wing area66.7 m2717.95 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed570 km/h354 mph
  Cruise speed500 km/h311 mph
  Ceiling7900 m25900 ft
  Range4500 km2796 miles
 ARMAMENT4 x 20mm cannonbs, 900kg of weapons

Comments
mike cadman, e-mail, 29.11.2017 22:41

Went to r.a.f.tengah school with a row of grounded brigands right beside us which proved a mini playground and source of souvenirs.

reply

T Stringer, e-mail, 26.10.2016 14:34

For a personal account see 'Brigand Boys' website

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Gerry Porter, e-mail, 12.01.2014 17:47

I served with the Aircraft torpedo development unit , flying from Fort Grange ,Gosport we used the Brigand, and also early versions of the Gannet, as I recall the Centaurus 57 engines gave endless problems , also the tail wheel lock was very weak , a fact I found out to my cost on a flight from Culdrose to Gosport, we overshot the runway and ended up across the Gosporrt road!

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J.E. Humby, e-mail, 30.12.2011 20:51

In 1948 a brigand was delivered to Folland Aircraft Ltd to have its fuselage reinforced for carrier take-off and landings
it was fitted with an arrester hook and was delivered to the Royal Navy presumably for trials one supposes. I completed my apprentice-ship and thus lost contact with anyone who might have had any knowledge of its fate. Over to you!

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charlier, e-mail, 20.12.2011 10:35

two sqodrons had bristol brigands from1951 to 1954 at R A F. TANGAH SINGAPORE. THEY WERE PLAGED WITH ENGINE DETACHMENTS ,ENGINE MOUNTS METAL FATIGE.THEY LOST A LOT OF AIR CREW IN THIS PERROID OF TIME.WHO ARE BURIDE IN GHANGI WAR CEMERTARY.

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Chris May, e-mail, 11.02.2011 13:14

RH746 fuselage is now (Feb 2011) at RAF Museum Cosford, the only significant relic of the type in the UK

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Barry, 14.01.2011 17:23

These planes flew and fought well against insurgents /terrorists in the Malayan campaign and against the Mau Mau in Kenya. 16 of the Met3 mark flew daily penetrations into tropical storms. The later trainer versions were the radar trainer T4 and T5.

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