Bristol Sycamore

what is it?

The Bristol Type 171 Sycamore is an early helicopter developed and built by the helicopter division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. The name refers to the seeds of the sycamore tree, Acer pseudoplatanus, which fall with a rotating motion. It has the distinction of being the first British helicopter to receive a certificate of airworthiness, as well as being the first British-designed helicopter to be introduced by and to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF).

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine · 14.8 m main rotor

base stats

• speed 212 km/htop speed
• range 531 kmwithout refuelling
• size 2,540 kgmax take-off weight
• built 180made 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 79 years ago, in 1947.
• 🏎️Top speed is 1.6× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Rotor of 14.8 m: about 3 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

1947-07-27

introduced

1953

number built

180

role

rescue and anti-submarine helicopter

origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

makers

Bristol Aeroplane Company

engines

1× Alvis Leonides

length

18.6 m

rotor diameter

14.8 m

height

4.2 m

max take-off weight

2,540 kg

top speed

212 km/h

range

531 km

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