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SPECIFICATIONS:Dimensions: Span: 57'10", Length: 41'8", Height: 15'10", Wing Area: 503 sq ft.
Weights: Max takeoff: 25,400lbs, Empty: 15,600lbs.
Powerplant: Two Bristol Hercules XV11 or XV111 14 cylinder, two row, air cooled, sleeve valve radial engines rated at 1,725hp for takeoff and 1,735hp at 500 ft driving three bladed, fully feathering, constant speed propellers of 12'9" diameter. Note that these
propellers rotate anti-clockwise when viewed from astern.Fuel Capacity: 550imp gal in four wing tanks; optional long-range tanks outboard of each engine nacelle totaling 29imp gal and, when the wing guns were not fitted, further optional tanks totaling 74imp gals. An external fuselage drop tank of 200imp gal capacity was available for ferry purposes.
Armament: Four 20mm Hispano cannon in nose with 283rpg. Six 0.303 Browning machine guns in wings with 1,000rpg. Optional Vickers machine gun in the dorsal position with 500 rounds. Either one 2,127lb torpedo, or eight 90lb rocket projectiles, or two 250lb bombs underwing.
PERFORMANCE:
Max Speed: 320 mph TAS at 10,000 ft
Max Cruise Speed: 303 mph TAS at 1,300 ft
249 mph TAS at 5,000'.
Rate of Climb: 1600 fpm with weapon load.
Service Ceiling: 19,000 ft.
Range: 1,280nm with weapon load & standard fuel.
Range: 1,523nm with long-range tanks fitted.HANDLING:
Lift Off: 110-120 mph IAS.
Climb: 170 mph IAS.
Cruise: 180-220 mph IAS.
Descent: 160-180 mph IAS
Gear: <240 mph IAS.
Flaps: <150 mph IAS.
Initial Approach Speed: 150 mph IAS.
Final Approach: 130 mph IAS.
Touch-Down: 105-110 mph IAS.
THE AIRCRAFT:
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter would now be described as a strike fighter and was simply a fighter version of the equally famous Beaufort light bomber.
The Royal Australian Air Force took delivery of 218 Beaufighters from British production lines and these were assigned serial numbers in the A19 series. The Department of Production built a further 365 Beaufighters in Australia and these were assigned serial numbers in the A8 series. Beaufighters assigned to RAAF SQNs in Europe retained the British serial numbers.
This computer model depicts a Beaufighter Mk TF.X, serial NV414, of No 455 Squadron, RAAF. After equipping with Beaufighters, No455 SQN operated in conjunction with No 489 (RNZAF) from Langham in Norfolk in the anti-shipping role under the control of Coastal Command. The RNZAF "Torbeaus" attacking Axis shipping with torpedoes while No 455 SQN's Beaufighters drew the defensive fire of the ships and then suppressed it with connon, machine-gun and rocket fire.
This combination proved most effective and the Langham Wing destroyed thousands of tonnes of enemy shipping.
COMPUTER MODEL:
This aircraft is fitted with CFS engines that support the real-life boost and rpm settings of the Bristol Hercules engines. It is also fitted wirh the RAF 662 ADF and the Sperry Mk 111 autopilot. On-line help with the autopilot can be obtained by ckicking on the small rectangular patch on the right-hand side of the autopilot.
The aircraft is also equipped for night operations with bitmapped textures, a fully variable clock, navigation lights and landing lights.
Please use the on-board checklist (SHIFT+C) until you are fully familiar with this aircraft.
