Boulton Paul Bodmin
| Bodmin | |
|---|---|
| Role | Experimental bomber |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Boulton & Paul Ltd |
| Designer | John Dudley North |
| First flight | 1924 |
| Number built | 2 |
The Boulton & Paul P.12 Bodmin was an experimental British twin-engined biplane bomber with its engines mounted in a fuselage engine room and with tandem pairs of tractor and pusher airscrews mounted between the wings. The two Bodmins built flew successfully in 1924, proving the concept, but the layout was not developed to production.
The Boulton & Paul Bodmin was one of the few multi-motor propeller-driven aircraft to have its engines in its fuselage. The concept arose immediately after World War I, when The British & Colonial Aeroplane Co. (soon to be renamed Bristol Aeroplane) began thinking about large transport aircraft powered by steam turbines mounted in an "engine room" in the fuselage and driving wing mounted propellers. They intended to develop the idea using their large Bristol Braemar triplane bomber, initially modified to be powered by four 230 hp (172 kW) Siddeley Pumas and called, in anticipation of steam power the Tramp. They sought and obtained Air Ministry support for this project, the Ministry appreciating the extra safety of an aircraft whose engines could be serviced in flight. Consequentially, the Ministry also issued Specification 9/20 for a smaller aircraft of the same configuration and placed orders for two prototypes with both Boulton & Paul for the twin-engined Bodmin and for the single-engined Parnall Possum. They were described as "Postal" aircraft to cover the Ministry's intents but were clearly bombers. All three types were built, but only the Bodmin and the Possum flew. It was recognised that the "engine room" arrangement came with a weight penalty owing to the gearing, clutches, drive shafts and supports, plus the need to strengthen wings, but John Dudley North, Boulton & Paul's chief designer argued that the airframe weight would be reduced by 10% due to the all-metal construction, as pioneered in the Boulton Paul P.10. This used tubes etc. produced in-house from steel sheet; the airframe was then fabric covered.
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