The Brigand was designed as a twin-engined three-seat long-range attack aircraft capable of fulfilling the duties of a torpedo-bomber, dive-bomber and fighter to replace the Beaufighter. It used wings, landing gear, engine nacelles and tail unit of a similar type to those of the Buckingham.
The prototype first flew on 4 December 1944. Although the first 11 aircraft were delivered as TF.1 torpedo-bombers to Coastal Command, in 1947 the Mk 1 was remodelled as a three-seat general-purpose bomber and most of the remaining 132 production Brigands were delivered as B.1. However a few saw service as Brigand Mk 2 training aircraft for radar navigators and Met Mk 3 meteorological reconnaissance aircraft.
The Brigand T.4 was an unarmed advanced trainer version based on the Brigand B.1 and employed primarily as a night fighter radar trainer. The T.4 normally carried a crew of three in tandem seats under a continuous canopy. For night fighter radar training the rear cockpit was blacked out.
The Brigand served with the RAF from 1949 until 1958, seeing action in Malaya during 1950 54, when it was operated with considerable success by Nos 45 and 84 Squadrons of the RAF, and had the distiction of being the RAF’s last piston-engined bomber.
Bristol Brigand B.1
Engines: 2 x Centaurus 57, 1842kW, 2470 hp (2,810hp with methanol/water injection)
Prop: 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) dia 4 blade.
Max Take-off weight: 17690 kg / 39000 lb
Empty weight: 11610 kg / 25596 lb
Wingspan: 22.05 m / 72 ft 4 in
Length: 14.15 m / 46 ft 5 in
Height: 5.33 m / 17 ft 6 in
Wing area: 66.7 sq.m / 717.95 sq ft
Max speed: 358 mph (576 kph) at 16,000 ft (4,880m)
Cruise speed: 500 km/h / 311 mph
Service ceiling: 7900 m / 25900 ft
Max range: 4500 km / 2796 miles
Crew: 3
Armament: 4 x 20mm cannon, 900kg of weapons
Brigand T.4
Engines: 2 x Bristol Centaurus 57, 2470 hp
Wingspan: 72 ft 4 in
Length: 46 ft 5 in
Height: 17 ft 6 in
Max speed: 358 mph at 16,000 ft
Cruise: 311 mph at 23,000 ft
ROC: 1500 fpm
Max range: 2800 mi
Crew: 3
All Aero 