Bristol 138

The Bristol High Altitude Monoplane (factory name Type 138) was a research aircraft manufactured by Bristol Aeroplane Company.

It was developed and built in particular to surpass the existing absolute altitude world record.

Specifications

Crew

1

Length

44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)

Wingspan

66 ft 0 in (20.12 m)

Height

10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)

Wing area

568 sq ft (52.8 m2)

Empty weight

4,391 lb (1,992 kg)

Gross weight

5,310 lb (2,409 kg)

Powerplant

1 × Bristol Pegasus P.E.6S 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine,

500 hp (370 kW) supercharged with intercooler

Propellers

4 bladed fixed pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

123 mph (198 km/h, 107 kn)

Endurance

2 hours 15 minutes

Service ceiling

54,000 ft (16,000 m)

Rate of climb

7.27 ft/min (0.0369 m/s) at 40,000 ft (12,192 m)

Wing loading

9.35 lb/sq ft (45.7 kg/m2)

Power/mass

0.0942 hp/lb (0.1549 kW/kg).