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Type: Stirling Mk. I-III: Heavy bomber with 7/8 crew. Stirling Mk. IV: Glider tug and special transport. Stirling Mk. V: Strategic transport. Origin: Short Models: I to V First Flight: Prototype: May 14, 1939 Production Mk. I: May 1940 Final Delivery (Mk. V): November 1945 Number Produced: 2,221 bomber versions, 160 Mk. V Engine: Stirling I Model: Bristol Hercules XI Type: 14-Cylinder air cooled sleeve valve radial Number: Four Horsepower: 1,595 hp Stirling II Model: Wright R-2600-A5B Cyclone Type: 14-Cylinder air cooled sleeve valve radial Number: Four Horsepower: 1,600 hp Stirling III, IV & V Model: Bristol Hercules XVI Type: 14-Cylinder air cooled sleeve valve radial Number: Four Horsepower: 1,650 hp Dimensions: Wing span: 99 ft. 1 in. (30.2m) Length: Typical: 87 ft. 3 in. (26.6m) Stirling V: 90 ft. 6.75 in. (27.6m) Height: 22 ft. 9 in. (6.94m) Wing Surface Area: N/A |
Weights: Empty: Stirling I: 44,000 lb. (19,950 kg) Stirling III: 46,900 lb. (21,273 kg) Stirling IV, V: 43,200 lb. (19,600 kg) Loaded: Stirling I: 59,400 lb. (26,943 kg) Stirling III, IV, V: 70,000 lb. (31,750 kg) Performance: Maximum Speed: Stirling I-III: 270 mph (435 km/h) Stirling IV-V: 280 mph (451 km/h) Initial Climb (Typical): 800 ft./min (244m/min) Service Ceiling (I-III): 17,000 ft. (5182m) Range: Stirling III: With 14,000 lb. Bombs: 590 miles (950 km). With 3,600 lb. Bombs: 2,010 miles (3235 km). Stirling IV-V: 3,000 miles (4828 km) Armament: Stirling I-III: Two .303 in. Brownings in nose turret. Two .303 in. Brownings in dorsal turret. Four .303 in. Brownings in tail turret. Early Batches: Two .303 in. Brownings in remote control ventral turret. Stirling IV: Four .303 in. Brownings in tail turret. Payload: 18,000 lb. (8165 kg.) of bombs, unfortunately, bomb bay/fuselage design limited the maximum size of a bomb to the 2,000 lb. variety. |
While not a bad design, the Stirling proved unpopular with aircrews, due in part to it's low ceiling and lack of manueverability at higher altitiudes. The type participated extensively in daylight bombing and then night bombing before being replaced by superior types. By 1943 the Stirling was relegated to glider tug, transport and ECM duties.
Sources:
Gunston, Bill - The Encyclodepia of the Worlds Combat aircraft, 1976, Chartwell Books, Inc., New York
WARBIRDS RESOURCE GROUP > BRITISH AVIATION > BOMBERS > PREVIOUS PAGE