Bristol 171 Sycamore
The Bristol Sycamore was the first helicopter to enter regular service with the Royal Air Force and served in rescue, liaison, and casualty-evacuation roles. Its large three-blade rotor and piston engine gave it a distinctive upright profile typical of early British rotorcraft. Sycamores flew in Malaya, Cyprus, and other post-war operations, proving the value of helicopters for military support. Their long service made them an important foundation for Britain’s later helicopter forces.
.jpg){kind=link}
Did you know?
Designed by Raoul Hafner, the Sycamore was the first British-built helicopter to earn a civil certificate of airworthiness.
Specifications
| Length | 12.5 m (41 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 3.3 m (11 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 14.6 m (48 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 5 |
| Persons on board | 5 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 2.5 t |
| Range | 260 NM (482 km) |
| Maximum speed | 110 kt (204 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 14,000 ft (4,267 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 6,000 ft (1,829 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,150 ft/min (5.8 m/s) |
| Engines | 1x Alvis Leonides |
| Units built | 178 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Bristol 171 Sycamore starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Bristol, the 171 Sycamore family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
Catch it yourself.CatchFlights shows the aircraft flying near you on a radar, so a type like this one is only a catch away when it passes overhead. Explore CatchFlights.
Browse all aircraft types, or learn to tell Airbus from Boeing.