BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER Mk.VI / X

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

 

Aircraft Weight, loaded: 24000lb (25500lb on Mk.X)

Crew: 2

Maximum fuel load: 682 Gallons

 

 

On entering the aircraft, set or check the following:

 

(i)         Hydraulic power lever                  ON

(ii)         Undercarriage lever                     DOWN

(iii)        Switch on battery and check       DOWN

(iv)        Check brake pressure                Min 100lb/sq.in

(v)         Brakes                                      ON

(vi)                Check fuel contents

 

 

Starting the engines and warming up:

 

            (i)         Engine cutoffs                            OPEN

            (ii)         Fuel cocks                                INNER TANKS ON

            (iii)        Throttles                                    1 inch open

            (iv)        Mixture                                     NORMAL (if operative)

            (v)         Propeller                                   Fully forward

            (vi)        Air intake                                  COLD

            (vii)       Gills                              OPEN

            (viii)       Master battery switch                 ON

            (ix)        Magnetos                                  BOTH ON

            (x)        Starter button                            PRESS

 

After start:

 

            (i)         Throttle                                     1000 rpm

            (ii)         Oil pressure                               Check

 

Before take-off checklist:

 

            H          Hydraulic power lever                  ON

            T          Trimming tabs:

Elevator                                                             Elevator                         One inch nose down on indicator

(slightly more with torpedo slung)

Aileron and rudder                                              Aileron                                      NEUTRAL

            M         Mixture                                     NORMAL

            P          Propeller controls                       Fully forward

            F          Fuel                                          Check contents of tanks and cock settings to

                                                                        INNER TANKS ON

            F          Flaps                                        Up or 15° down

            G          Gills                                          One third open

            T          Tailwheel lock                            Locks (after turning into wind)

                        (if fitted)

 

Note:-   Under normal conditions the use of flaps for take-off is unnecessary, but 15° may be used for taking off from restricted spaces.

            With torpedo slung, 15° flaps is recommended.

 

 

Take-off

 

(i)         Taxi forward a few yards into the wind to straighten the tail wheel

(ii)         To ensure that both engines are responding evenly, open up slowly to about 2,000

r.p.m. and then open up fairly quickly to the TAKE-OFF position.

(iii)        Any slight tendency to swing to starboard can be easily checked by leading slightly

with the starboard throttle until the rudder becomes effective.

(iv)                Raise the tail early to lessen the tendency to swing. Hold the nose in a constant

attitude and let the aircraft fly itself off.

 

After Take-off

 

(i)         Safety speed is 160 m.p.h. ( 140 knots ) I.A.S

(ii)         Raise the undercarriage as soon as safely airborne, the thumb catch on the

operating lever should not be disengaged; it does not lock the lever unless the

wheels are on the ground.

(iii)        If down, raise the flaps at a safe height. With a torpedo slung leave the flaps at take-

off setting until a speed of 160 m.p.h. ( 140 knots ) I.A.S. is reached.

Note :-  This must not be taken to imply that flaps may be lowered at speed in

excess of 150 m.p.h. ( 130 knots ) I.A.S. .

           

Climbing

 

(i)                   The recommended climbing speed is 160mph (140 kts) I.A.S.

(ii)                 For ease of control, especially as high take-off weights in conditions of poor visibility,

a higher speed such as 170mph (150 kts) I.A.S. – 180mph (157 kts) I.A.S. on Mark X

at 25500 lb take-off weight – will be found desirable.

 

Approach and landing

 

(i)                   Preliminary approach:- Undercarriage lowering may begin at 170mph (150 kts) I.A.S. and flap lowering at 150mph (130 kts) I.A.S. Speed must be reduced to 135mph (116 kts) I.A.S. as soon as possible after the undercarriage is fully down and before the flaps are fully down.

 

Checks before landing

 

            B          Brakes                                      Check pressure (100 lb/sq.in min)

            H          Hydraulic power lever                  ON

            U          Undercarriage                            DOWN

            M         Mixture                                     NORMAL

            P          Propeller                                   Speed controls fully forward

            F          Fuel                                          Tank contents and cock settings

            F          Flaps                                        20° (fully down after final turn into wind)

            T          Tailwheel lock                            LOCKED

 

Recommended I.A.S. for final approach at 21000lb are:

 

                                                            Flaps down                    Flaps up

            Engine assisted                         100 (87kts)                    120 (105kts)

            With torpedo slung                     110 (95kts) plus

            Glide                                         115 (100kts)                  135 (118kts)

 

Mislanding

 

(i)                   the aircraft will climb easily at climbing power with flaps and undercarriage down.

(ii)                 Raise the undercarriage immediately.

(iii)                Climb at 120mph (115kts) I.A.S. (if torpedo is slung 132mph (115kts) I.A.S.

and raise flaps at not less than 300 to 400 ft.

 

After landing

 

(i)                   Open gills, raise flaps, and if a tailwheel lock is fitted – unlock – before taxying.

(ii)                 Leave hydraulic power lever ON.

(iii)                Run engines for two minutes at 800 to 900rpm and then stop by pulling the engine cut-outs, and shut the throttles. After engines have stopped, switch off ignitions and all electrical services and close fuel cocks.