Sopwith Triplane Typhoon
A Beginners Guide Links About Me Version History

Bristol Type 171 Sycamore

<< Return to Bristol

For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Contents

Type Description
Projected Variants

Type Description

  • Type 171 Sycamore Mk.1
  • 2 seat experimental helicopter to Specification E.20/45 to meet the requirements of OR.221. The fuselage was built in three sections; the nose and mid secions were built on welded steel tube frames, the nose having a metal and perspex fairing, while the mid section was clad in light alloy. The tail boom was a light alloy monocoque. The three bladed main rotors, built by Horden-Richmond, comprised their proprietory Hydulignum (high strength compressed birchwood laminate) leading edge spar, with spruce and plywood ribs and plywood skinning. The space behind the two pilots was occupied by flight test equipment. One 450 h.p. Pratt and Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial powerplant mounted vertically in the fuselage centre section.
  • Type 171 Sycamore Mk.2
  • 4 seat civil helicopter to Specification 34/46 to meet the requirements of OR.242. As Mk.1 with flight test equipment replaced by passenger seats and fitted with a 550 h.p. Alvis Leonides 71 powerplant.
  • Type 171 Sycamore Mk.3
  • Four/five seat General Purpose helicopter; as Mk.2 but featuring a shorter nose and a wider rear fuselage to allow a bench seat for three passengers. Later machines to Specification H.106D to meet the requirements of OR.242. One 550 h.p. Alvis Leonides 73 powerplant.
  • Type 171 Sycamore Mk.3A
  • As Mk.3 with extended rear fuselage to give extra baggage space.
  • Type 171 Sycamore Mk.4
  • As Mk.3A, with lengthened landing gear, swapped pilot/co-pilot positions and four doors.
  • Type 171 Sycamore HC.Mk.10
  • Ambulance helicopter for Royal Air Force to Specification A.9/49 to meet the requirements of OR.274. As Mk.3 but fitted with four hinged doors, the aft pair being bulged to enclose aft fitted stretchers.
  • Type 171 Sycamore HC.Mk.11
  • Mk.3 modified to an Army Communications helicopter to Specification A.106P. Requirements included carrying external loads from an under fuselage strong point, carrying three passengers or 600lbs. weight of internal cargo, in addition to carrying standard Army radio equipment.
  • Type 171 Sycamore HR.Mk.12
  • Mk.3 for Royal Air Force Coastal Command Air-Sea Rescue, to Specification HR.106P to meet the requirements of OR.304. A forward sliding door was fitted on the port side, while the starboard door was located aft under a winch.
  • Type 171 Sycamore HR.MK.13
  • As HR Mk.12, with lengthened landing gear and winch, to Specification HR.106P3.
  • Type 171 Sycamore HR.Mk.14
  • Mk.4 for Royal Air Force Coastal Command Air-Sea Rescue, to Specification HR.106P5.
  • Type 171 Sycamore HR.Mk.14B
  • HR Mk.14 for the Belgian Air Force.
  • Type 171 Sycamore Mk.50
  • HR Mk.12 with lengthened landing gear, for Royal Australian Navy, to Specification HR.106P2 to meet the requirements of OR.304.
  • Type 171 Sycamore Mk.51
  • HR Mk.14 for the Royal Australian Navy, to Specification HR.106P4.
  • Type 171 Sycamore Mk.52
  • HR Mk.14 for the German Federal Government.

Type 171 Sycamore HR.Mk.14 Specification
Rotor Dia Length* Length** Height Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
48 ft 7 in 42 ft 13 ft 11 in 13 ft 11 in 3810 lb 5600 lb 132 mph/ 115 kn 330 mi
14.81 m 12.8 m 4.24 m 4.24 m 1728 kg 2540 kg 212 km/h 531 km

* Fuselage only
** Maximum over main and tail rotors

Projected Variants

  • (none)
  • Two-seat Army AOP helicopter to Specification A.6/47. One Alvis Leonides powerplant.

Production Details

Serial Range/
Registration		 C/n Type Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
2 prototype aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/5490. First flew 27 July, 1947.
VL958, VL963 12835, 12836 Mk.1 2 VL963 allocated civil registration G-ALOU in April 1949 for exhibition in Paris Salon that year. Reverted to VL963 for RAE use to 1953.
2 prototype aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset to Contract 6/Acft/1286. Cancelled.
VW248, VW252 2 Proposed variant of Type 171 to Specification A.6/47.
1 prototype aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset to Contract 6/Acft/5490. First flew 3 September 1949.
VW905 12869 Mk.2 1 Also allocated civil registration G-AJGU but ntu.
4 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/2505.
G-ALSR 12886 Mk.3 1 To Ministry of Supply. Loaned to BEA in between November 1951 and October 1954, named 'Sir Gareth'. Later to XH682 (q.v).
WA576 - WA578 12887-12889 Mk.3 3 (1) Originally to The Bristol Aeroplane Co as G-ALSS - 'SU. G-ALSU later modified to HCMk.10 standard.
4 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/6757 (but see note 2). Delivered between August 1950 and May 1952.
WT923 - WT926 12890, 12893, 12895, 12897 HC.Mk.11 4 Originally allocated civil registrations G-ALSV, 'SY, 'TA and 'TC but ntu.
1 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/7317. See Note 3.
WT933 12891 Mk.3 1 Originally allocated civil registrations G-ALSW but ntu. To A&AEE for tropical trials in Sudan and Nairobi (1951) and later used for icing trials in Canada (1956) in development of electrical de-icing equipment for the Type 192 programme.
1 prototype aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset. First flew April 1951.
G-ALSX 12892 Mk.3 1 Retained by Bristol for sea trials during 1952. To Williamson Diamonds of Tanganyika in Feb 1958
 as VR-TBS.To Bristol as G-ALSX March 1960 and used in Type 192 development
 programme.
1 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/8050. See Note 3.
WT939 12896 Mk.3 1 Originally allocated civil registrations G-ALTB but ntu. Used for cold weather trials.
1 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/6924 for the RAAF. First flew 1 August 1951.
WV695 12894 Mk.3 1 Originally flew with civil registration G-ALSZ; to RAAF September 1951, for use at the Long Range Weapons Establishment's Woomera rocket range. Registered A91-1 (initially allocated A80-2). To VH-GVR.
4 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/6948. Delivered between February 1952 and January 1953.
WV781 - WV784 12898-12900, 13062 HR.Mk.12 4 WV781 - WV783 originally allocated civil registrations G-ALTD, 'TE and 'SP but ntu.
3 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the Royal Australian Navy to Contract 6/Acft/7865. Delivered to RAN in March 1953.
XA219 - XA221 13063-13065 Mk.50 3
2 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/8736. Delivered in April 1953.
XD196 - XD197 13066-13067 HR.MK.13 2
2 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, by British European Airways. Delivered in May and June 1953.
G-AMWG 13068 Mk.3A 2 Named 'Sir Gawain'. To Ansett ANA, Australia, in July 1956 as VH-INQ.
G-AMWH 13069 Named 'Sir Geraint'.
1 prototype aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset. First flew 1952.
G-AMWI 13070 Mk.4 1 Bristol demonstrator. To Royal Australian Navy in July 1961 as XR592 (q.v.).
4 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the Royal Australian Navy to Contract 6/Acft/9091. Delivered to RAN in November 1954.
XD653 - XD656 13071, 13146-13148 Mk.51 4 XD653 originally allocated civil registration G-AMWJ but ntu.
17 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/9584. Delivered between January 1953 and November 1954.
XE306 - XE307 13144-13145 HR.Mk.14 2
XE308 - XE312 13149-13153 5
XE313 - XE317 13194-13198 5 Originally allocated civil registrations G-AMWK to 'WO but ntu.
XE318 - XE322 13220-13224 5
3 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, by the Belgian Air Force (Force Aérienne Belge) for use in the Belgian Congo. Delivered between April and May 1954.
B-1 - B-3 13199-13201 HR.Mk.14B 3 Originally allocated civil registrations G-AMWP to 'WS but ntu. Initially registered OT-ZKA to 'KC in the Belgian Congo.
1 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the RAAF Delivered in January 1955.
A91-2 13202 HR.Mk.14 1 Originally allocated civil registration G-AMWT but ntu.
5 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/9584. Delivered between December 1954 and February 1955.
XF265 - XF269 13225-13229 HR.Mk.14 5
36 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/10943 and built at Filton or Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset where noted. Delivered between February 1955 and July 1956.
XG500 - XG505 13245-13247, 13264, 3265, 13267, 13245-13247, 13264, 13265, 13267 HR.Mk.14 6
XG506 13203 1 Originally allocated civil registration G-AMWU but ntu.
XG507 13402 1 Built at Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare
XG508 - XG523 13239, 13269, 13268, 13271-13373, 13368-13377 16
XG538 - XG549 13378-13389 12 Built at Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare. XG547 to the British Rotorcraft Museum at Weston-super-Mare in June 1978 as G-HAPR.
1 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/6321.
XH682 12886 HR.Mk.14 (1) Ex Mk.3 G-ALSR transferred to the Royal Aircraft Establishment in July 1954.
10 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/11386 and built at Filton or Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset where noted. Delivered between March 1955 and October 1956.
XJ361 - XJ364 13248, 13266, 13240,
 13241		 HR.Mk.14 4
XJ380 - XJ382 13242-13244 3
XJ383 - XJ385 13390-13392 3 Built at Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare
1 aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, as demonstator. First flew 1955.
G-AOBM 13270 Mk.4 1 To Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd, Filton, Bristol. To the Bristol Aeroplane Co of Canada Ltd, Montreal Quebec as CF-HVX for use as the North American demonstrator. To G-AOBM and converted by Bristol to Mk.HR.51. To XN448 for RAN (q.v.)
1 aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for Australian National Airways Pty Ltd, Melbourne Victoria. First flew 1955.
VH-INO 13403 Mk.4 1 Name 'Yarrana'. Initially registered to Bristol as G-AOBM.
9 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/11899 and built at Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Delivered between October 1956 and January 1957.
XJ895 - XJ898 13404-13406, 13408 HR.Mk.14 4
XJ915 - XJ919 13409-13410, 13412-13414 5
1 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the RAN to Contract 6/Acft/12606 and built at Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Delivered in March 1956.
XK902 13401 Mk.51 1
1 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the RAN to Contract 6/Acft/13096 and built at Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Delivered in
 March 1956.
XL507 13407 Mk.51 1 See Note 4.
50 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, by the German Federal Defence Force (Bundeswehr) for use by the Air Force (Luftwaffe) and Navy (Marine). Built at Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset and delivered between May 1957 and (??) 1959.
AS+321 13411 Mk.52 1 To 78+01 by 1968.
AS+323 13416 1 To 78+02 by 1968.
AS+322 13439 1 To 78+03 by 1968.. To Nord Helicopter in July 1973 as D-HFRZ.
AS+324 13440 1
BA+176 13442 1 To 78+04 by 1968.
BA+177 13443 1 To 78+05 by 1968.
BA+178 13445 1 To 78+06 by 1968. To Feuerwehr-Flugdienst Niedersachsen in 1970/71 as D-HOPF; To D-HAHN.
GA+119 13446 1 To 78+07 by 1968. To Feuerwehr-Flugdienst Niedersachsen in 1970/71 as D-HEMD.
GB+117 13458 1
GA+247 13459 1 To 78+08 by 1968.
DA+391 13461 1 To 78+09 by 1968.
DA+392 13462 1 To 78+10 by 1968.
CA+327 13463 1 To 78+11 by 1968. To Nord Helicopter in June 1973 as D-HFRO.
AS+325 13464 1
AS+326 13465 1 To 78+12 by 1968.
BB+176 13466 1 To 78+13 by 1968.
BB+177 13467 1
AS+327 13469 1
AS+328 13470 1 To 78+14 by 1968.
AS+329 13472 1 To 78+15 by 1968.
AS+330 13473 1 To 78+16 by 1968. To D-HALC in September 1977.
CA+328 13475 1 To 78+17 by 1968.To D-HALD; HB-RXB; OE-XSY.
BB+178 13476 1
BD+176 13477 1 To 78+19 by 1968.
SC+201 13478 1 To 78+20 by 1968.
SC+202 13479 1 To 78+21 by 1968. To D-HFUM.
SC+203 13480 1 To 78+22 by 1968. To D-HELF.
SC+204 13481 1 To 78+23 by 1968.
BD+177 13482 1 To 78+24 by 1968.
BD+178 13483 1 To 78+25 by 1968. To Feuerwehr-Flugdienst Niedersachsen in 1970/71 as D-HELM; To HB-RXA.
DB+391 13484 1 To 78+26 by 1968.
DB+392 13485 1 To 78+27 by 1968.
CB+011 13486 1 To 78+28 by 1968.
CB+012 13487 1 To 78+29 by 1968.
CC+061 13488 1
CC+062 13489 1 To 78+30 by 1968.
CC+063 13490 1
CC+064 13491 1 To 78+31 by 1968.
CB+013 13492 1 To 78+32 by 1968.
CB+014 13493 1 To 78+33 by 1968.
CC+065 13494 1 To 78+34 by 1968.
CC+066 13495 1
CB+015 13496 1 To 78+35 by 1968.
CB+016 13497 1
CC+067 13498 1
CB+017 13499 1
CB+018 13500 1
CC+068 13501 1 On loan the Deutschen Forschungsanstalt für Luftfahrt (German Aerospace Research Institute) in Braunschweig as D-HOCI. Returned to Luftwaffe in December 1965. To 78+36 by 1968. To Feuerwehr-Flugdienst Niedersachsen in 1970/71 as D-HAHN.
CC+069 13502 1
CB+019 13503 1 To 78+37 by 1968.
10 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to Contract 6/Acft/13888 and built at Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Delivered between
 February and December 1957.
XL820 - XL829 13415, 13417, 13438, 13441, 13444, 13447, 13460, 13468, 13471, 13474 HR.Mk.14 10
3 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the Royal Australian Navy to Contract 6/Acft/7461. 2 aircraft built new at Old Mixon, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset and one machine converted from civilian Mk.4. Delivered in June 1959.
XN448 - XN450 13270, 13504, 13505 Mk.51 2 (1) XN448 ex-Mk.4 G-AOBM/CF-HVX. After RAN service, sold to G. V. Rose Motors, Melbourne Vic, as VH-SYC in January 1967.
1 aircraft ordered from the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the Royal Australian Navy to Contract 6/Acft/7461. Delivered in June 1961.
XR592 13070 Mk.51 (1) Ex-Mk.4 G-AMWI. Originally allocated XN635 but this duplicated a Jet Provost serial. To VH-BAW.
2 aircraft laid down by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, but not completed.
13506-13507 Mk.4 2
Total Production 178 (4) 4

Production Summary

All Aircraft By Mark
Type Built New Conv Canc'd Total
 Type 171 Sycamore Mk.1 2 2
 Type 171 Sycamore (A.6/47) 2 2
 Type 171 Sycamore Mk.2 1 1
 Type 171 Sycamore Mk.3 8 10
 Type 171 Sycamore Mk.3A 2 2
 Type 171 Sycamore Mk.4 3 2 5
 Type 171 Sycamore HC.Mk.10 (1) 1
 Type 171 Sycamore HC.Mk.11 4 4
 Type 171 Sycamore HR.Mk.12 4 4
 Type 171 Sycamore HR.MK.13 2 2
 Type 171 Sycamore HR.Mk.14 88 (1) 89
 Type 171 Sycamore HR.Mk.14B 3 3
 Type 171 Sycamore Mk.50 3 3
 Type 171 Sycamore Mk.51 8 (2) 10
 Type 171 Sycamore Mk.52 50 50
178 (4) 4
Aircraft Supplied to Foreign Air Arms
Type Mk.3 HR.Mk.14B Mk.50 Mk.51 Mk.52 Total
 Australia 1 3 8 12
 Belgium 3 3
 Germany 50 50
Air Ministry Contracts Associated With Sycamore Production
Contract Total
6/Acft/1286 2
6/Acft/2505 4
6/Acft/5490 3
6/Acft/6321 1
6/Acft/6757 (Note 2) 4
6/Acft/6924 1
6/Acft/6948 4
6/Acft/7317 (Note 3) 1
6/Acft/7461 4
6/Acft/7865 3
6/Acft/8050 (Note 3) 1
6/Acft/8736 2
6/Acft/9091 4
6/Acft/9584 22
6/Acft/10943 36
6/Acft/11386 10
6/Acft/11899 9
6/Acft/12606 1
6/Acft/13096 1
6/Acft/13888 10

Notes

  1. Bristol initially instigated two production batches, c/ns 12886 to 12900 and c/ns 13062 to 13071 and allocated civilian registrations to them all. Most never, or only briefly, carried these and became part of military contracts. Only seven machines had a significant civilian life.
  2. Contract per MAP Price Books [11] and Bristol Air Ministry Contracts Ledger [12]. However, Air Britain RAF Registers [2] and BARG Roundel [10] gives Contract as 6/Acft/6754.
  3. Contracts per MAP Price Books [11]. However, Air Britain RAF Registers [2] and BARG Roundel [10] give contracts for WT933 and WT939 as 6/Acft/6607 and 6/Acft/6603 respectively.
  4. An order for two HR.51s had been placed, allocated XK902 and XK903. However a separate contract was subsequently raised for the second machine, and for administrative purposes the Ministry of Supply replaced XK903's serial with XL507.

Production References

  1. Bristol Aircraft Since 1910, C.H. Barnes (Putnam, 1964, 1970 and 1988)
  2. Royal Air Force Aircraft WA100-WZ999, RAF Aircraft Register Series, J.J. Halley (Air-Britain Publications, 2003)
  3. Royal Air Force Aircraft XA100-XZ999, RAF Aircraft Register Series, J.J. Halley (Air-Britain Publications, 2001)
  4. British Military Aircraft Serials and Markings), British Aviation Research Group (BARG/Nostalgair, 1983
  5. Air Enthusiast Quarterly #77
  6. British Isles Civil Aircraft Register 1919-2011, (LAAS International)
  7. Australian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers at adf-serials
  8. Belgian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers at belgian-wings
  9. http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/sycamore/bristol-sycamore.htm
  10. Ministry of Aircraft Production Aeroplane Price Books (Dept of Archive and Aviation Records, RAF Museum, Hendon, Records X005-2126)
  11. Bristol Air Ministry Contracts Ledger via The Bristol Aero Collection Trust Library
  12. F-40 #20 - Bristol 171 Sycamore Mk.52, Michael Riedesser (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Luftwaffe eV, 1993)
  13. https://www.rotorspot.nl/product/br171.php

Page Revision History

Revised at Version 2.1.0
  • Incorrect c/n deleted from VW248, VW252.
  • G-ALSR, c/n 12886, moved to Contract 6/Acft/2505.
  • WT923 - WT926: Contract No. revised and associated Note 2 added. Contract Table corrected.
  • WT933 and WT939: Contract No. revised and associated Note 3 added. Details expanded. Incorrect total changed from 2 to 1; overall total table corrected.
  • WV695: details expanded.
  • XA219 - XA221: delivery dates corrected.
  • C/n 13270: details expanded.
  • XL507: detailed notes moved to Note 4; associated Note 4 added.
  • German aircraft now listed individually with additional details.
Revised at Version 2.0.0
  • Improved Type Description and Added Specification details.