albermarle

George Walker wrote in message ...
Can anyone tell me about the Albemarle light bomber?


Started off in 1938 as a design for a fast bomber carrying 4,000
pounds of bombs, capable of delivering them in a 30 degree dive.

Specification was amended to use non strategic materials.

The original engine was the Taurus, this was changed to the Merlin
X, along with the dropping of the 30 degree dive requirement, then
the engines became the much heavier Hercules. 200 ordered off
the drawing board. First flight 20 March 1940, tests showed the
need for a larger wingspan. Engine overheating reduced performance.
Tricycle undercarriage, a first for UK built warplanes.

2 Prototypes, 42 mark I bombers, one of which became the transport
conversion prototype, Transport production 78 ST Mark I, 80 GT mark I,
99 ST mark II, 1 GT mark II, 1 mark IV, 49 GT mark VI, 133 ST mark VI,
and 112 GT mark VI (ST special transport, GT glider tug). 600 production
aircraft. 10 sent to the USSR. Not used as a bomber by the RAF.

Span 77 feet , length 59 feet 11 inches, top speed 265 mph at 10,500
feet, ceiling 18,000 feet, range 1,300 miles at 170 mph. All up weight
as a bomber 36,500 pounds. 2 1,590 HP Bristol Hercules XI engines.

The RAF preferred the Mosquito.

Geoffrey Sinclair
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