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Bristol Belvedere HC.1 


Bristol Belvedere HC.1

(United Kingdom)

Notes: This twin-rotor helicopter served the RAF between 1961 and 1969. Originally, the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy also planned on buying the type, but later abandoned those plans. Roles were troop transport, medevac, and flying crane. Only twenty-six were built; the type was regarded as clumsy and expensive. None the less, it was actually a capable aircraft, capable of night and bad weather flight. A special linkage in the transmission allowed the helicopter to make a safe descent in the event of one rotor failing.

Combat usage: The Belvedere was used during the evacuation of Aden, and proved invaluable during the “Malay Crisis” in Borneo. It also saw service in British protectorates in Africa.

Users: United Kingdom (RAF)

Max speed:

119kts

Range:

398NM

Ceiling:

23,133’

Payload options:

30 passengers

18 fully-equipped troops

5953lb of cargo

Powerplant:

x2 Napier Gazelle turboshafts

Crew:

2 (pilot, copilot)

Entry created by: Jason W. Henson
Contributors:

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HC Mk.1 Bristol Belvedere (61-)Colonial Wars (1950-64) v2.1

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