The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design. The   more...name Beaufighter is a portmanteau of "Beaufort" and "fighter". Unlike the Beaufort, the Beaufighter had a long career and served in almost all theatres of war in the Second World War, first as a night fighter, then as a fighter-bomber and eventually replacing the Beaufort as a torpedo bomber
By fighter standards, the Beaufighter Mk I was rather heavy and slow. It had an all-up weight of 16,000 lb (7,000 kg) and a maximum speed of only 335 mph (540 km/h) at 16,800 ft (5,000 m). Nevertheless this was all that was available at the time, as the otherwise excellent Westland Whirlwind had already been cancelled due to production problems with its engines.

The Beaufighter's main claim to fame would be that it was coming off the production lines at almost exactly the same time as the first British airborne radar sets. With the four 20 mm cannons mounted in the lower fuselage, the nose could accommodate the radar antennas, and the general roominess of the fuselage enabled the AI equipment to be fitted easily. Even loaded down to an even heavier 20,000 lb (9 t), the plane was still fast enough to catch the even slower German bombers. By early 1941, it was an effective counter to Luftwaffe night raids. The various early models of the Beaufighter soon commenced service overseas, where its rugged build and reliability soon made the aircraft popular with its crews.

A night-fighter Mk VIF was supplied to squadrons in March 1942, equipped with AI Mark VIII radar. As the faster de Havilland Mosquito took over in the night fighter role in mid to late 1942, the heavier Beaufighters made sterling contributions in other areas, such as anti-shipping, ground attack and long-range interdiction in every major theatre of operations.

In the Mediterranean, the USAAF's 414th, 415th, 416th and 417th Night Fighter Squadrons received 100 Beaufighters in the summer of 1943, achieving their first victory in July 1943. Through the summer the squadrons conducted both daytime convoy escort and ground-attack operations, but primarily flew defensive interception missions at night. Although the Northrop P-61 Black Widow fighter began to arrive in December 1944, USAAF Beaufighters continued to fly night operations in Italy and France until late in the war.

By the autumn of 1943 the Mosquito was available in enough numbers to replace the Beaufighter as the primary night fighter of the RAF. By the end of the war some 70 pilots serving with RAF units had become aces while flying Beaufighters.1941 saw the development of the Beaufighter Mk IC long-range heavy fighter. This new variant entered service in May 1941 with a detachment from No. 252 Squadron operating from Malta. The aircraft proved so effective in the Mediterranean against shipping, aircraft and ground targets that Coastal Command became the major user of the Beaufighter, replacing the obsolete Beaufort and Blenheim.

Coastal Command began to take delivery of the up-rated Mk VIC in mid 1942. By the end of 1942, Mk VICs were being equipped with torpedo-carrying gear, enabling them to carry the British 18-inch or the US 22.5-inch torpedo externally. The first successful torpedo attacks by Beaufighters came in April 1943, with No. 254 Squadron sinking two merchant ships off Norway.

The Hercules Mk XVII, developing 1,735 hp at 500 feet was installed in the Mk VIC airframe to produce the TF (Torpedo Fighter) Mk X - commonly known as the "Torbeau." The Mk X became the main production mark of the Beaufighter. The strike variant of the Torbeau was designated the "Mk XIC." Beaufighter TF Xs would make precision shipping attacks at wave-top height with torpedoes or rockets. Early models of the Mk Xs carried ASV (air-to-surface vessel) radar, but this was replaced in late 1943 by AI Mark VIII radar, house  less

We actually had some snow in Bristol today. An hour after I filmed this, it was melting fast.

sandwiches and panini from bristol farms.

highlights from the bristol race from BDRL2006.com

My journey home from work through the city of bristol. This is how i get about, on me bike.

A night time journey through my home town, on my bike again! This one is much better than the last, i even got to music on. :0) (King Creosote. Saffy Nool)

Ultra egos - I'll do anything, Ultra egos is a hiphop group from Bristol UK, Visit the facebook www.facebook.com/ultraegos www.myspace.com/ultraegos www.purevolume.com/ultraegos www.youtube.com/ultraegosmusic

Ultra Egos, Is a hiphop group from Bristol UK, visit the facebook www.facebook.com/ultraegos www.myspace.com/ultraegos www.purevolume.com/ultraegos

Book your paintballing stag weekend in Bristol with StagWeb at http://www.stagweb.co.uk

The Barrie J Davies Show at centrespace Gallery Bristol November 2008

rick emerson show live stuff

http://budgetcarinsure.blogspot.com

http://www.laterooms.com/en/p4786/hotel-reservations/6964_tortworth-court-four-pillars-hotel-wotton-under-edge.aspxTortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel near Bristol, UK. This Hotel offers 190 rooms!

The Traditional Chinese Medicine approach to treating stress and anxiety. How acupuncture practitioners select the appropriate points.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine approach to treating stress and anxiety. How acupuncture practitioners select the appropriate points.

NASCAR Feature

Mazda Speed 3 vs Nissan Maxima

Nates Turbo H22 Hatchback

My '95 Acura Integra GS-R vs Something???

Ford Lightning vs Dodge Ram

Ford Lightning vs Mustang

Division 3 league match played on 10th September 1988.

BBC5.tv presents 911 Lies, a comprehensive collage of the lies permeated by the neo-con fascists.

So totally, totally different from driving in the US!
Don't miss the fun and games after I turn right, about two minutes in.