British WWII's bombers

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Short S.29 Stirling

First of the RAF's four-engined heavy bombers. Soon replaced by the Lancaster and Halifax, and used as targer tug. The shortcomings of the Stirling were mostly due to faulty specifications. The Stirling had a too small wing, and the towering high undercarriage of the Stirling was required to give the small wing a sufficient incidence for take-off and landing. The Stirling Mk.V (160 pieces) was a transport version for 40 paratroopers or big load.

General characteristics Stirling Mk.III
Primary function	Heavy bomber
Power plant	Four 14cylinder Bristol Hercules XVI radial engines
Thrust	4x 1,650 HP		4x 1,230 kW
Wingspan	99.1 ft		30.20 m
Length	87.3 ft		26.6 m
Height	22.8 ft		6.94 m
Wingarea	1,460 sq ft		135.63 sq m
Weight	empty	46,900 lb	21,273 kg
	max.	70,000 ft	31,750 kg
Speed	270 mph		435 km/h
Initial climb rate	800 ft/min		244 m/min
Ceiling	17,000 ft		5,182 m
Range	2,010 mi		3,235 km
Armament	8x 7.7mm machine gun; 8,165 kg bombs
Crew	7-8
First flight	14.5.1939
Date deployed	May 1940
Number built	2,375 (incl. Mk.V)

Jirka Wagner