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#1133

Bristol Beaufighter

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·first flew 1939· heavy fighter / strike aircraft / torpedo bomber

🎖️ military 2× piston retired
10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
  1. 1. 255 Squadron RAF Beaufighter MK II at RAF Hibaldstow Sept 1941: not stated. Assumed RAF.· Public domain
  2. 2. A19-144 A8-324 Bristol Beaufighter (9460730110): Mark Harkin· CC BY 2.0
  3. 3. Armourers of the Royal Air Force attach rockets to a Bristol Beaufighter aircraft of 45 Squadron prior to its flying a strike operation on a communist terrorist target in the Malayan jungle: Official Photographer of the Royal Air Force - Unnamed. Remains a part of the 'Central Office of Information Post 1945 Official Collection.· Public domain
  4. 4. Beaufighter (AWM OG0001): Sergeant W.B. Ball, RAAF; also U.S. Army Air Forces photo 342-FH-3A33141-23548AC· Public domain
  5. 5. Bristol 156 Beaufighter TT.10 SR911 34 Sqn Teversham 06.51 edited-2: RuthAS· CC BY 3.0
  6. 6. Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IC 1944: Umeyou· CC BY-SA 3.0
  7. 7. Een Bristol Beaufighter Mk. VI, uitgerust met een torpedo, in de start (2157-066-001): Fotoafdrukken Koninklijke Luchtmacht· CC BY-SA 4.0
  8. 8. The navigator of a No. 125 Squadron Bristol Beaufighter MK VIF settles into his position, ready for another night patrol from Exeter, 14 September 1943. CH11182: Bellamy W (F/O), Royal Air Force official photographer· Public domain
  9. 9. 235 Squadron RAF Beaufighter IWM COL 187: not stated· Public domain
  10. 10. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter. CH15213: Royal Air Force official photographer· Public domain
Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
Bristol Beaufighter, photo 1 of 10
1/10 not stated. Assumed RAF.· Public domain

what is it?

The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter (often called the Beau) is a British multi-role aircraft developed during the Second World War by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was originally conceived as a heavy fighter variant of the Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber. The Beaufighter proved to be an effective night fighter, which came into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Battle of Britain, its large size allowing it to carry heavy armament and early aircraft interception radar without major performance penalties.

How to recognise it: 2 piston engines with propellers · 17.6 m wingspan

base stats

  • speed 515 km/htop speed
  • size 11.5 tmax take-off weight
  • built 5,928made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

  • First flew 87 years ago, in 1939.
  • Top speed is 4.0× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
  • Wingspan of 17.6 m: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight
1939-07-17
introduced
1940
retired
1960
status
retired
number built
5,928
role
heavy fighter / strike aircraft / torpedo bomber
origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
makers
Bristol Aeroplane Company
engines
2× Bristol Hercules XVII or Bristol Hercules XVIII
crew
2
length
12.6 m
wingspan
17.6 m
height
4.8 m
max take-off weight
11.5 t
top speed
515 km/h
range
—
ceiling
5,791 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q831463, Wikipedia: Bristol Beaufighter (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.

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