Hiya,
A quick question for Blenheim experts.
I’d always assumed that the Blenheim tailwheel was a fixed unit throughout its life, but recently I’ve had the following photograph as my computer desktop:
http://miliblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/bristol-blenheim-mk1-bombers.jpg
I’ve only just noticed the obvious difference, and after some trawling I’ve also found these flight shots, all of early pre-war Mk. Is, showing the tailwheel apparently retracted in flight:
http://yabs.isambard.com.au/images/props/47-blenheim-mk1.jpg
But later shots of both Mk. 1s and IVs clearly show fixed tailwheels – and on photos of the early aircraft on the ground it’s very hard to distinguish any kind of doors or wheel well.
So is this just a case of tailwheels being airbrushed out in early publicity shots to make Britain’s amazing new bombers seem even sleeker? Or if the very early Mk. 1s had retracting tailwheels, why where they apparently removed on later production?
By: JDK - 30th June 2014 at 12:50
Thought I had our schizophrenia under control! 😀
By: Tin Triangle - 30th June 2014 at 12:40
Thanks all! I’m rebuilding my MPM kit as K7037 of 90 squadron 1938-so I reckon I might have to get the saw/drill out! MPM did at least get the flare described by JDK correct 🙂
By: mike currill - 30th June 2014 at 07:47
Of all the Blenheim photos I’ve seen I’ve never even noticed that. Seems like cause to go back and have a look.
By: JDK - 30th June 2014 at 00:51
Just had a check. The first edition of Graham Warner’s ‘The Bristol Blenheim, a complete history‘ has a photo of the retractable tailwheel in both positions on page 82. Graham confirms it was abandoned due to problems with the unit.
The rear, lower fuselage has a slight flare to make an egg-shaped hole for the wheel, aft of the leg (no doors) and this is evident at the angle in your photo above as a slight bulge on the rear fuselage sides.
Hope that helps.
By: JDK - 30th June 2014 at 00:33
The Hurricane’s tailwheel was also designed and initially retractable, but IIRC, in both cases, due to problems with it not coming down on occasion and the resultant fuselage damage on landing they were fixed down (and mechanisms removed). The drag penalty in both cases seems not to have been enough to warrant a better retract system being developed.
You’ll occasionally note that the later-design P-51D Mustang’s tailwheel retraction also had occasional problems, with postwar ANG Mustangs having it fixed down and warbirds (very rarely) having it not retract properly at shows.
Regards,
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June 30, 2014 at 12:23 am