Bristol Pullman

Design and development

The Pullman was developed as a 14-passenger variant of the Braemar bomber. The third prototype Braemar was completed as the prototype and sole Pullman and first flew early in May 1920. It was shown at the International Aero Show at Olympia in July of that year, where its great size and interior fittings were much admired. The Pullman was one of the earliest British aircraft to have a fully enclosed crew cabin, and this feature was disliked by service pilots, who often carried fireman's axes with them to enable them to escape in an emergency.

Operational history

Ultimately the Pullman was not accepted for squadron use by the Royal Air Force, nor was it selected for use by any civil operator. The prototype was the sole example of the type constructed or configured.

Variants

Type 26 Pullman

Passenger variant of the Braemar bomber powered by four Liberty L-12 engines, one built and first flown in May 1920, sometimes known as the Pullman 14.

Type 33 Pullman 40

Proposed upscaled 40-passenger variant, it was to be powered from a central engine room, at first with four 500 hp (373 kW) Siddeley Tiger engines and later by two 1,500 hp (1,119 kW) steam turbines. A smaller testbed for the central engine room concept was built as the Tramp.

Operators

 United Kingdom

Royal Air Force

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: two

Capacity: 14

Length: 52 ft (15.88 m)

Wingspan: 81 ft 8 in (24.89 m)

Height: 20 ft (6.10 m)

Wing area: 1,905 ft² (177 m²)

Empty weight: 11,000 lb (5,000 kg)

Loaded weight: 17,750 lb (8,070 kg)

Powerplant: 4 × Liberty L-12 inline engine, 400 hp (300 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 135 mph (216 km/h)

Range: more than 1,000 mi ()

Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,500 m)