The Bristol Type 192 Belvedere was based on the unsuccessful Bristol Type 173 civilian helicopter which had been designed by a team led by Bristol's Raoul Hafner, it had first flown in 1953, only three were made and only one flew commercially for a short period with BEA. The military Type 192 prototype Belvedere helicopter flew on the 5th of July 1958, the helicopter was powered by twin engines but in an emergency either engine could drive both of the four bladed metal rotors. Twenty-six Belvederes were built, the design had been originally intended for the Royal Navy as the type 191 but the design was modified to carry eighteen fully equipped troops with a total load capacity of 6,000 lb. as type 192 and entered RAF service as the Bristol Belvedere HC Mark 1 in 1961, the HC.1 remained in service with the RAF until 1969. Specifications: Bristol Type 192 Belvedere HC.1 Crew: Two pilots and a loadmaster Capacity: 30 passengers or 18 fully-equipped troops Maximum payload: 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) Length: 54 ft 4 in (16.56 m) Rotor diameter: 48 ft 11 in (14.9 m) Height: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) Empty weight: 11,085 lb (5,028 kg) Max takeoff weight: 19,000 lb (8,600 kg) Engines: Twin 1,465 hp (1,092 kW) Napier Gazelle turbo-shafts Cruise speed: 138 mph (119 kn, 222 km/h) Range: 400 NM (460 mi, 720 km) Service ceiling: 23,000 ft (7,000 m)
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