The Bristol 188 was a British experimental research aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in the early 1960s to study the effects of sustained high-speed flight on an airframe, particularly the intense heating produced by prolonged flight at more than twice the speed of sound. To withstand these temperatures the aircraft was built largely from stainless steel rather than the aluminum alloys used in most aircraft of the era, giving it a distinctive polished, needle-like appearance that earned it the nickname the Flaming Pencil. Only a small number were built and flown from 1962 onward, and the aircraft ultimately fell short of its intended top speed, but the data it gathered on high-speed aerodynamic heating contributed to later supersonic aircraft design.
Facts
SignificanceSupersonic research aircraft developed to support research for the Avro 730, a later-cancelled bomber capable of Mach 3 flight 1 Manufacturer or BuilderBristol Aeroplane Company 1 In the Other Atlases
Manufactured By
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Sources
1. Bristol Type 188, Wikipedia
Lead, first sentence
The Bristol Type 188 is a supersonic research aircraft designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company.
Operational history
The maiden flight of the Type 188 occurred on 14 April 1962.
Lead, third sentence
The Type 188 was developed as part of supporting research efforts for the Avro 730, a later-cancelled bomber capable of Mach 3 flight.
In Group: Experimental Jet Research Aircraft, Lead sentence
The Bristol Type 188 is a supersonic research aircraft designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Bristol Aeroplane Company.
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