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Bristol Blenheim



Development of the model 142 civil transport, that was faster than the R.A.F. fighters when it appeared. In the early years of WWII the Blenheim was used as bomber, fighter, nightfighter, reconnaissance aircraft and close-support aircraft. It was very vulnerable to enemy fighters. Early models had a blunt, glazed nose, but the Mk.IV featured an elongated 'stepped' nose with an assymetric shape, and the nose of the Mk.V was even longer. Blenheim Mk.IV was a standard light bomber, Mk. I a fighter, Mk.IF nightfighter and Mk.IVF an attack/fighter aircraft.

General characteristics Blenheim Mk.IVL
Primary function Light bomber
Power plant Two Bristol Mercury XV radial engines
Thrust 2x 920 HP 2x 686 kW
Wingspan 56.3 ft 17.17 m
Length 42.6 ft 12.98 m
Height 12.8 ft 3.91 m
Wingarea 470 sq ft 43.57 sq m
Weight empty 2,015 lb 4,441 kg
max. 2,962 lb 6,531 kg
Speed max. 266 mph 428 km/h
Initial rate of climb 1,500 ft/min 457 m/min
Ceiling 31,500 ft 9,600 m
Range 1,950 mi 3,138 km
Armament 8x 7.7mm machine gun; in weapons bay 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, if necessary, under wings 2x 500 lb.
Crew Three
First flights Type 142 12.4.1935
142M Blenheim 25.6.1936
Date deployed 1936
Number built 4,422
Users GB, Finland, Lithuania, Romania, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, France, Canada, Portugal


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