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{{Short description|Twin-engine freighter and airliner}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= Type 170 Freighter / Wayfarer
 |image= File:British United Bristol Freighter.jpg
 |caption= In commercial service, 1966
 |type=[[Cargo aircraft]]
 |national_origin= United Kingdom
 |manufacturer=[[Bristol Aeroplane Company]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight=2 December 1945
 |introduction=1946
 |retired=
 |status= Retired
 |primary_user=[[Silver City Airways]]
 |more_users=<!--up to three more. please separate with <br />.-->
 |produced= 1945–1958
 |number_built=214<ref name="bae herti" />
 |variants=[[Bristol Superfreighter]]
}}

The '''Bristol Type 170 Freighter''' is a British twin-engine aircraft designed and built by the [[Bristol Aeroplane Company]] as both a freighter and [[airliner]]. Its best known use was as an [[air ferry]] to carry cars and their passengers over relatively short distances. A passenger-only version was also produced, known as the '''Wayfarer'''. It was powered by twin 2000 hp 14-cylinder piston engines matched to 4-bladed propellers. It had wide opening clamshell doors on the nose, and with a high-set flight deck, this allowed full access to the cargo bay, including the ability to drive a vehicle directly in via a ramp.

The Freighter was developed during the [[World War II|Second World War]], having attracted official attention from the British [[Air Ministry]]. They sought the development of a rugged aircraft capable of carrying various cargoes, including a [[Bedford OY|3-ton truck]]. Various changes to the design were made to accommodate their requirements, but it was completed too late to participate in the conflict; its first flight  was in December 1945. The majority of sales of the Freighter were to commercial operators after the war, but it did have military service with several Air Forces.

In response to customer demand, an enlarged version to maximize vehicle-carrying capacity, known as the [[Bristol Superfreighter]], was developed. By the end of production in 1958, 214 had been produced, and though all but retired in the 21st century it can be found preserved in aviation museums in the United Kingdom and internationally.

==Development==
[[File:Cockpit of Bristol Freighter.jpg|thumb|Bristol Freighter cockpit]]
The '''Bristol Type 170''' was designed as a stop-gap project to provide work for the [[Bristol Aeroplane Company]] while the [[Bristol Brabazon]] was under development. Subsequently, the British [[Air Ministry]] expressed interest in the project, believing that it would provide a rugged transport aircraft capable of using unimproved airstrips; accordingly, a pair of prototypes were ordered on the condition that the design was modified so that it would be compatible with the air-transporting of a [[British Army]] [[Bedford OY|3-ton truck]]. For this requirement, the Air Ministry formulated and issued [[List of Air Ministry specifications#1940.E2.80.931949|Specification 22/44]] (which was later revised as C.9/45) around the envisioned design.<ref>Barnes 1970, p. 330.</ref>

As proposed, the aircraft was an all-metal, twin-engine high-wing [[monoplane]] based on the pre-war [[Bristol Bombay]], having wings of the same section and taper but with a swept leading edge and straight trailing edge with two spars in place of the seven used in the Bombay.<ref name="Barnes331">Barnes 1970, p. 331.</ref> The square-section [[fuselage]] was clear of internal obstructions; in the original design this was to be loaded via a trapdoor in the nose, but the Air Ministry requirements necessitated a change to clamshell doors in the nose. Considerable effort was made to maximise the usable internal volume of the aircraft in order to readily accommodate the carriage of bulky cargoes.<ref name="flight 235" /> The flight deck was elevated above the load space on the nose as to not obstruct access; the crew would enter the flight deck via a fixed vertical ladder on the side of the cargo bay.<ref name="flight 235 239" /> Power was to have been provided by a pair of a development of the [[Bristol Perseus]] using nine [[Bristol Centaurus]] cylinders, each engine rated at {{convert|1150|hp|kW|abbr=on}}.<ref name="flight 238" />

Early on, it had been envisioned that the Freighter would play a logistical role in the [[South-East Asian theatre of World War II|South-East Asian theatre]] of the war, being operated by [[British Far East Command]].<ref name="bae herti" /> However, as it was becoming clear that the conflict would be over before the aircraft could enter service, an increasing emphasis was placed on suiting the aircraft to meet the demands of civilian operators. A cost analysis demonstrated that for civil use, it would be more economic to increase the all-up weight of the design from {{cvt|30,000|to|35,000|lb|kg}} and to adopt the more powerful [[Bristol Hercules]] engine to power the Freighter. It was also considered that there would be a market for a passenger aircraft suitable for use from basic airstrips, and so a version without the nose doors and capable of carrying up to 36 passengers, to be known as the ''Wayfarer'', was proposed.<ref name="flight 235" />

On 2 December 1945, the first prototype, registered ''G-AGPV'', was first flown at Filton by [[Cyril Uwins]].<ref name="bae herti">[http://www.baesystems.com/en/heritage/bristol-170-freighter "Bristol 170 Freighter."] ''[[BAE Systems]]'', Retrieved: 14 May 2017.</ref> Cyril found the aircraft to be generally satisfactory, but requested that the tailplane be lowered and increased in span as to enable the aircraft be [[trim tab|trim]]med to fly "hands off" over a wide range of [[centre of gravity]] positions.<ref>Barnes 1970, p. 332.</ref>

==Design==
[[File:Bristol Freighter (WCAM).jpg|thumb|right|Bristol Freighter 31M in Norcanair markings at the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2007]]

The Bristol Type 170 Freighter was a twin-engine, high mounted-wing monoplane that was developed specifically for the economic carriage of freight by air.<ref name="flight 555">Flight 23 November 1944, p. 555.</ref> It was a visually distinctive aircraft, possessing a 'boxy' fuselage, rounded nose, and a high-set flight deck.<ref name="bae herti" /> In order to maximise the economical performance of the Freighter, compromises were implemented on other aspects of performance, resulting in a relatively low cruising speed; this was not viewed as being of importance to the role of a freighter and thus not a major diminishing factor.<ref name="flight 555 556">Flight 23 November 1944, pp. 555–556.</ref> According to aviation publication [[Flight International|''Flight'']], the economics of the Freighter were judged to be a major factor of its market appeal, as well as the wider economic situation of the UK at this time.<ref name="flight 556" /><ref name="flight 240">Flight 7 March 1946, p. 240.</ref>

Operationally, the Freighter was intended to be employed upon high-frequency short distance routes as opposed to long-haul routes.<ref name="flight 235">Flight 7 March 1946, p. 235.</ref> Being flown at the low speeds and short ranges for which the aircraft was intended, the fuel economy improvements that would be provided by a retractable [[landing gear|undercarriage]] was outweighed by the increase in structural weight; therefore, it was decided that a fixed undercarriage would be used, which also had the benefits of reduced production and maintenance costs.<ref name=Barnes331 /><ref name="flight 237">Flight 7 March 1946, p. 237.</ref> The combination of a high-mounted wing and fixed undercarriage was considered to be atypical for the era, and resulted in greater [[Aerodynamic drag|drag]] than a low-mounted counterpart would have.<ref name="flight 556" /> The main gear legs, which featured [[Dowty Group|Dowty]]-built [[shock absorber]]s, were supported by an arrangement of strengthened vertical struts, positioned beneath the aircraft's engines and horizontally from the lower edge of the fuselage.<ref name="flight 237" />

The lower nose of the Freighter was covered by a pair of large clamshell doors, for easy access to the main hold; as a direct consequence of this arrangement, the [[Cabin pressurization|unpressurised]] fuselage was somewhat breezy during flight.<ref>Donovan, Don. "Life and Times at RAAF Butterworth 1967–1970." ''RAF Butterworth/Penang Association,'' Autumn 2006.</ref> The doors, which are hinged outwards, led into a main hold that had an internal volume of 2,020 cu ft; it was capable of being loaded with heavy payloads, up to a maximum of 350 cu ft per ton.<ref name="flight 556" /><ref name="flight 236" /> To better facilitate loading, a built-in [[hoist (device)|hoist]] is installed on the fixed upper surface of the nose, which reduced the need for airport-based infrastructure. Fixed restraining points to secure payloads are present throughout the internal space.<ref name="flight 556" /> On the passenger-carrying Wayfarer variant, the nose-mounted doors were substituted by a fixed shell and the area immediately behind would be used either as a cargo hold or [[Galley (kitchen)|galley]].<ref name="flight 235"/>

[[File:Bristol 170.31 EI-AFS ALT RWY 1952 edited-2.jpg|thumb|left|Bristol Freighter operated by [[Aer Lingus]] being loaded through the clamshell nose doors in 1952]]

The flight deck of the Freighter was positioned in an elevated position, directly above the clamshell doors.<ref name="flight 239" /> In addition to providing a good all-round view for the flight crew, this placement kept the flight deck clear of the loading activity below. ''Flight'' stated of the cockpit: "The control and instrument layout is quite the best we have seen in any Bristol aircraft".<ref name="flight 235 239">Flight 7 March 1946, pp. 235, 239.</ref> The major controls are typically comfortable and smooth, while each pilot is provided with a standard blind-flying panel. Instrumentation fittings differed dependent upon customer specification, but a [[Sperry Corporation]]-built [[autopilot]] would typically be installed.<ref name="flight 239" /> The flight deck was typically operated by a two-man crew, a first pilot and second pilot or radio operator; in addition, space was provided at the rear for a third crew member.<ref name="flight 239" />

The Bristol Hercules 734 [[radial engine]]s that powered the type, along with all of its major subsystems such as the cowling, oil tank, cooler and control cables, could also be easily detached for servicing; an entire engine replacement could be performed within 90 minutes.<ref name=Barnes331 /><ref>Flight 7 March 1946, pp. 236, 238–239.</ref> The fuel system is uncomplicated, being contained within a pair of 300-gallon fuel tanks positioned in the interspar bays of the wings; neither fuel tanks or [[hydraulics|hydraulic]] pipelines were present in the outer wings.<ref name="flight 237" /> The only elements needing hydraulic systems were the clamshell doors and [[Flap (aeronautics)|flap]]s.<ref name="flight 238">Flight 7 March 1946, p. 238.</ref> The electrically controlled [[carburation]] system had three different intakes, each suited to starting the engine under different conditions – these being hot, sub-zero, and temperate climates.<ref name="flight 239">Flight 7 March 1946, p. 239.</ref>

The airframe itself is deliberately simple in its construction, while the use of maintenance-intensive components was kept to an absolute minimum and, where necessary, these were made as accessible and readily serviceable as possible.<ref name="flight 556">Flight 23 November 1944, p. 556.</ref><ref name="flight 238" /> Manufacturing of the Freighter was eased by many components being standardised and identical where feasible; this ideology was also applied to elements of the internal structure, such as the [[longeron]]s, frames, and skin.<ref name="flight 236">Flight 7 March 1946, p. 236.</ref> The floor of the main hold is covered by wooden panels, designed to be easily replaceable in the event of damage; these were supported by a floor structure of deep transverse beams with a pair of longitudinal strips, strengthened by a support beam.<ref name="flight 236" /> Another ease-of-maintenance decision was to use [[Wire rope|cables]] for the control system where practical, while all [[flight control surfaces]] had fabric coverings, which was both light and easy to replace.<ref name="flight 237" />

==Production history==
[[File:Bristol 170 Freighter Mk31, Atlantic Air Transport (Instone Air Line) AN1346286.jpg|thumb|Bristol 170 Freighter Mk31 of Atlantic Air Transport]]

On 30 April 1946, the second prototype, which was also the first 34-seat Wayfarer, registered ''G-AGVB'', made its first flight. It quickly commenced proving flights in the colours of [[Channel Islands Airways]], where it carried in excess of 10,000 passengers over six months.<ref name="bae herti" /> The third aircraft, registered ''G-AGVC,'' was the first '''Freighter I''' and had fully operational nose doors. After a number of demonstration flights around the world, the Bristol 170 entered full production. One of the first sales was to the [[Argentine Air Force]], which ordered 15 aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bristol Type 170 Freighter, Wayfarer and Superfreighter versions |url=http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/JetAgeRMC_Bristol170.htm |publisher=Gloucestershire Transport History |access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref>

The managing director of [[Silver City Airways]] was [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] Griffith James Powell, who realised that he could adapt the Bristol Freighter to fly passengers with their cars from Britain to [[Continental Europe]] and [[Jersey]]. As an "[[air ferry]]", it would allow people going on holiday to avoid the lengthy waits and travel times involved in traditional sea [[ferry|ferries]]. On 14 July 1948, the airline made the first flight with a car, from [[Lympne Airport]] in [[Kent]] to [[Le Touquet]] on the northern coast of [[France]].<ref>Francis, Devon. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Qi0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA104 "World's First Air Ferry For Cars".] ''Popular Science,'' July 1950, pp. 103–106.</ref> Silver City Airways would become one of its most prolific operators: during 1954, each Freighter in the company's fleet averaged 2,970 landings and take offs&nbsp;— in excess of eight sectors per day for every day of the year.<ref name="bae herti" />

In 1953, production of the freighter was moved to [[Whitney Straight]]'s [[Western Airways]] factory at [[Weston-super-Mare]] airport. A lengthened version, the '''Freighter 32''', which featured movable wooden partitions in the cargo compartment, was introduced; it could be configured to carry either three 14&nbsp;ft (3.3m) cars and 20 passengers or two larger vehicles and 12 passengers, the passenger seats being in the rear section of the fuselage.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=AeADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA94 "British Air Ferry Takes Cars Across English Channel."] ''Popular Mechanics'', August 1954, p. 94.</ref> Silver City Airways dubbed this variant the ''[[Bristol Superfreighter|Superfreighter]]'' and subsequently built an airport named "[[Lydd Airport|Ferryfield]]" at [[Lydd]] in Kent, beginning air ferry services in 1955. In the same year, [[Channel Air Bridge]] started operations from [[Southend]], with four Bristol Freighters flying to [[Calais]].

The last two Freighters of the 214 built were delivered in 1958, one to [[New Zealand]] in February and the last aircraft to [[Dan-Air]] in March 1958. The New Zealand aircraft was delivered to [[Straits Air Freight Express]] (SAFE), which eventually operated one of the largest fleets of Freighters. One of the lengthened aircraft, registered G-AMWA, had 60 seats fitted and was known as a '''Super Wayfarer'''.

==Operational history==
[[File:Bristol 170.31 ZK-CAM SAFE AUK 15.10.73 edited-3.jpg|thumb|left|A Bristol 170 Series 31 ''Merchant Venturer'' of SAFE Air at [[Auckland International Airport]] in 1973. (doors open)]]
===Civil users===
In New Zealand SAFE Air moved [[Rail transport|rail]] [[freight]] from [[Wellington]] (the [[North Island]]) across the [[Cook Strait]] to [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]] (the [[South Island]]) and back, using Bristol Freighters, starting in 1951. The airline later reconfigured its aircraft to accept palletised cargo loaded on patented "cargons". This was a first anywhere in the aviation world.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}
[[File:G-AMLJ B170 Freighter 31 BKS LPL 29NOV64 (5662298679).jpg|thumb|In commercial service at Liverpool, 1964]]
Cargons were loaded near the rail yards and their load was calculated and arranged to remain within the aircraft's load and [[Center of gravity|centre of gravity]] limits. They were then trucked to the airport and placed on the Freighter using a mechanical loading device. The loader accepted cargons from horizontal-tray road vehicles and then raised them to the level of the aircraft's cargo deck on electrically powered screw-jacks. The pallets could then be rolled into the nose of the aircraft. Other adaptations allowed the carrying of horses and other high-value large animals.

Freighters were the major link between the [[Chatham Islands]] and mainland New Zealand until [[Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy|Armstrong Whitworth Argosy]] aircraft replaced them. SAFE Air developed a soundproofed "container" for the half of the aircraft given over to passengers on these flights.  Bristol 170s were still in commercial use with SAFE until the late 1970s.

Trans Australian Airlines bought four MK31 or MK 32s from the Pakistan Air Force.  Two were flown back to Sydney, Australia where they were rebuilt and then sent to New Guinea for TAA's Sunbird services,  flying freight into the New Guinea highlands.  One then went to Archerfield airport in Brisbane, Australia and was used for shipping [[crayfish]] from Tasmania.

===Military users===
[[File:1969 - Bristol (9680593664).jpg|thumb|Bristol in military service, 1969]]
[[File:Bristol 170.31M 9699 RCAF Langar 07.66.jpg|thumb|right|[[Royal Canadian Air Force]] Bristol 170 31M of the RCAFs European-based 1st Air Division in 1966]]

In military service, Bristol Freighters were operated by the air forces of [[Argentina]], [[Australia]], [[Burma]], [[Canada]], [[Iraq]], [[Pakistan]] and New Zealand.<ref name="bae herti" /> Bristol Freighters were operated briefly by the [[Pakistan Air Force]]. After withdrawal, some of the Pakistan aircraft were bought by SAFE Air and used in New Zealand. The Royal Canadian Air Force used five Freighters to carry spares and supplies between the United Kingdom and their bases in France and West Germany.

The [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] ordered 12 ''Mk 31M'' Freighters in the late 1940s. RNZAF Freighters ranged as far as supplying the [[New Zealand Army]] in [[British Malaya|Malaya]], the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] [[High Commissioner|High Commissions]] (and other support staff) in the [[Maldives]], [[Ceylon]], [[India]] and [[Nepal]], performing [[RAF Far East Air Force|Far East Air Force]] tasks in Malaya (often when other aircraft types were unserviceable owing to maintenance problems) and [[Hong Kong]]. They ran a highly reliable military shuttle service for allies in [[Thailand]] during the [[Vietnam War]] and served several other roles, being adapted for—amongst other things—[[aerial topdressing]] experiments, although to avoid competition with private enterprise, the New Zealand government did not use them in that role.

The airline [[Aigle Azur]] operated Bristol 170 Freighters in early 1950s [[French Indo-China]]. At least one aircraft was impressed by French authorities to fly supplies into the base at [[Dien Bien Phu]].<ref>''Aeroplane'' magazine July 2017 p24 with Dien Bien Phu photo</ref>

===Final days===
The New Zealand Freighters were retired from military use when replaced by [[Hawker Siddeley Andover]]s in the 1970s. After retirement, a number of smaller local operators briefly flew Freighters. Some were exported to Canada. A SAFE Air Freighter is preserved in taxiable condition at Blenheim and another at the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum]] in [[Christchurch]]. A third is on display at Founders Historical Park in [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]], and a fourth, the only one of its kind in Europe,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aerospacebristol.org/freighter |title=Aerospace Bristol |access-date=5 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106063744/http://aerospacebristol.org/freighter |archive-date=6 January 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> is in storage in [[Bristol, United Kingdom]] after being transported from [[Ardmore Airport (New Zealand)]] by [[Aerospace Bristol]]. Other Freighter airframes around New Zealand now serve as novelty tea-rooms, backpacker hostels, and motel rooms, such as one in [[Ōtorohanga]].<ref>[http://www.woodlynpark.co.nz/planemotel.html "Woodlyn Park, Otorohanga, New Zealand."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615170817/http://www.woodlynpark.co.nz/planemotel.html |date=15 June 2009 }} ''woodlynpark.co.nz.'' Retrieved: 13 November 2010.</ref>

One Freighter was in service in turn with British [[Ministry of Supply]], the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] and subsequently went into commercial use in Australia until 1978 after which it went on to become a museum exhibit and was given over to the [[RAAF Museum]] at [[Point Cook]], Victoria, Australia in 1988.

Bristol freighter Mk 31M G-BISU was operated by Instone Airline at Stansted, Essex, UK, for a number of years. This was an ex-RNZAF aircraft and left Ardmore on 2 March 1981 for its 86-hour ferry flight to the UK. It subsequently flew its first charter flight on 3 August 1981 delivering two racehorses to [[Deauville]]. This role of flying livestock was to take up half a year, while other work included carriage of oil drilling machinery, car parts, newspapers and mail.  Re-registered as ''C-FDFC'', in 1996 it crashed on takeoff with the crew escaping, but was essentially a write-off. The captain, John Duncan, and co-pilot Malcolm Cutter reported that the aircraft entered a severe yaw after takeoff, which was uncontrollable despite use of full opposite aileron and rudder control. In trying to avoid collision the aircraft stalled.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/bristol-freighter-type-170-mk-31m-c-fdfc-18-july-1996 "Bristol Freighter, Type 170 Mk 31M, C-FDFC, 18 July 1996"] AAIB Bulletin No: 10/96 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814034548/http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/october_1996/bristol_502112.cfm |date=14 August 2007 }}  Retrieved: 13 November 2010.</ref>

The last Freighter in service, which flew for Instone Airline then later returned to New Zealand, was bought from surplus by [[Hawkair]] in [[Terrace, British Columbia]], Canada. In 2004, this aircraft undertook its final ferry flight to the [[Reynolds-Alberta Museum]] in [[Wetaskiwin]], [[Alberta]].<ref name="bae herti" />

==Variants==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
;Freighter Mk I
:Utility transport Series I or '''Freighter''' with a strengthened floor and hydraulically-operated nose doors.<ref name="bae herti" />

;Freighter Mk IA
:Mixed-traffic variant with 16-passenger seats<ref name="am793p52">Stroud July 1993, p. 52</ref>

;Freighter Mk IB
:Variant of Mk I for [[British European Airways]]

;Freighter Mk IC
:Variant of Mk IA for [[British European Airways]]

;Freighter Mk ID
:Variant of Mk IA for [[British South American Airways]]

;Wayfarer Mk II
:Airliner (passenger variant) Series II or '''Wayfarer'''.  The nose doors were omitted and additional windows were added.<ref name="bae herti" />

;Wayfarer Mk IIA
:Variant of Mk II with 32 seats

;Wayfarer Mk IIB
:Variant of Mk IIA for [[British European Airways]]

;Wayfarer Mk IIC
:Variant of Mk II with 20 seats and baggage hold

;Freighter Mk XI
:Variant of Mk I with 108&nbsp;ft (32.92&nbsp;m) wing and extra tankage.<ref name="bae herti" />
{{col-break}}
;Freighter Mk XIA
:Mixed-traffic version of Mk IX

;Freighter Mk 21
:More powerful-engined version.<ref name="bae herti" />

;Freighter Mk 21E
:Convertible version of Mk 21 with 32 removable seats

;Freighter Mk 31
:Variant of Mk 21 with larger tailfin.<ref name="bae herti" />

;Freighter Mk 31E
:Convertible version of Mk 31

;Freighter Mk 31M
:Military version of Mk 31 with provision for supply dropping

;[[Bristol Superfreighter|Freighter Mk 32]] (Bristol Superfreighter)
:Higher-capacity version with fuselage lengthened by 5&nbsp;ft (1.52&nbsp;m).<ref name="bae herti" />

;Type 179 Freighter
:Replacement for Freighter with a twin boom tail, not built.

;Type 179A Freighter
:As Type 179 but with an upswept rear fuselage and a ramp-loading door, not built.

;Type 179B Freighter
:Version of Type 179 with standard tail and powered by Centarus engines, not built.

;Type 216
:Freighter/car ferry replacement of Freighter. It was intended to be powered by a pair of [[Rolls-Royce Dart]] turboprop engines. Not built.
{{col-end}}

==Operators==
[[File:Bristol 170 Freighter 32 of Silver City Airways.jpg|thumb|right|Silver City Airways Freighter 32 loading a car for Cherbourg at [[Southampton Airport|Southampton]] in September 1954]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F001297-0011, Berlin, Flughafen Tempelhof.jpg|thumb|A Silver City Airways Bristol Freighter, viewed from under the wing of an [[Avro York]] at Berlin-Tempelhof, 1954]]
[[File:Bristol 170.31 G-AINL Dan-Air Ringway 06.11.64 edited-1.jpg|thumb|Bristol Freighter 31 of [[Dan-Air]] operating a cargo service at [[Manchester Airport]] in 1964.]]
===Civil operators===
{{div col}}
;{{ARG}} 
*[[Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina]]<ref name="am793p54">Stroud July 1993, p. 54</ref>
;{{AUS}} 
*Air Express
*[[Ansett-ANA]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
*Ansett-MAL
*[[Australian National Airways]]
*Brain & Brown Airfreighters
*Jetair Australia
*[[Trans Australia Airlines]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
;{{BEL}} 
*Avions Fairey
*[[SABENA]]
;{{BRA}} 
*[[Real Transportes Aéreos]]
;{{CAN}} 
*Associated Airways<ref name="am793p54"/>
*Central Northern Airways
*[[Hawkair]]
*[[Lambair]]
*Maritime Central Airways<ref name="am793p54"/>
*North Canada Air
*[[Norcanair]]
*[[Pacific Western Airlines]]
*[[Transair (UK)|Transair]]
*[[Trans Canada Airlines]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
*Trans Provincial Airlines
*[[Wardair]]
;{{ECU}} 
*Shell Company of Ecuador
;{{FRA}} 
*[[Aigle Azur]]
*Air Atlas<ref name="am793p54"/>
*[[Air Djibouti]] <small>(operated in [[French Somaliland]])</small>
*Air Fret
*Air Outremer<ref name="am793p54"/>
* {{Interlanguage link|Compagnie Air Transport|de}}<ref name="am793p54"/>
*[[Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux]]<ref>{{harvnb|Delmas ''Le Fana de l'Aviation'' June 1985|p=14}}</ref>
*Corse Air
*''Société Aérienne du Littoral''
*''Société Indochinoise de Transport Aériens''
*''Transportes Aériens Reunis''
;{{DEU}} 
*[[LTU International|LTU]]
*Panavia Ltd
;{{IND}} 
*Bharat Airways<ref name="am793p54"/>
*Dalmia Jain Airways
*[[Indian Airlines|Indian National Airways]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
;{{IRL}} 
*[[Aer Lingus]]
*[[Aer Turas]]
;{{ITA}} 
*Società Avio Trasporti Torino
;{{LAO}} 
*Air Laos
;{{LBN}} 
*[[Middle East Airlines]]
;{{NZL}} 
*Hercules Airline
*[[Straits Air Freight Express|SAFE Air]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
;{{NGA}} 
*[[West African Airways Corporation]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
;{{flag|Rhodesia}} 
*[[Central African Airways]] two aircraft delivered in 1948, both sold in 1949.<ref>Eastwood and Roach 1991, p. 40.</ref>
;{{SAU}} 
*[[Saudi Arabian Airlines]]
;{{ESP}} 
*[[Aviaco]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
*[[Iberia Airlines|Iberia]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
;{{flag|South Africa|1928}} 
*[[Suidair]] operated one Bristol Wayfarer.<ref name="am793p54"/>
;{{SWE}} 
* {{Interlanguage link|Trafik-Turist-Transportflyg|de}}
;{{GBR}} 
*[[Air Charter Limited|Air Charter]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
*[[Air Ferry Limited|Air Ferry]]
*[[Air Kruise]]
*[[Airwork Services|Airwork]]
*[[Court Line|Autair]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
*[[Aviation Traders]]
*[[Northeast Airlines (UK)|BKS Air Transport]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
*[[British Aviation Services|Britavia]]
*British Air Ferries
*[[British European Airways]]
*[[British United Air Ferries]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
*[[Channel Air Bridge]]
*[[Channel Airways]]
*Channel Island Airways<ref name="am793p54"/>
*[[Dan-Air]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
*[[Hunting-Clan Air Transport|Hunting Aerosurveys]]
*[[Instone Airlines]]
*Manx Airlines 1947–1958
*Midland Air Cargo
*Ministry of Civil Aviation
*[[Silver City Airways]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
*[[Trans European Aviation]]
;{{VIE}} 
*[[Air Vietnam]]<ref name="am793p54"/>
{{Div col end}}

===Military operators===
{{div col}}
;{{ARG}} 
*[[Argentine Air Force]]
;{{AUS}} 
*[[Royal Australian Air Force]] – Four in service from 1949 to 1967. They were used for transport duties in support of the Weapons Research Establishment, [[Woomera, South Australia]].
**[[No. 34 Squadron RAAF]]
**No. 1 Air Trials Unit
**No. 2 Air Trials Unit
**[[Aircraft Research and Development Unit]]
;{{BIR}} 
*[[Burmese Air Force]]
;{{CAN}} 
*[[Royal Canadian Air Force]]
;{{IRQ}} 
*[[Iraqi Air Force]]
[[File:Bristol Freighter 41 Sqn RNZAF Thailand 1962.jpg|thumb|A 41 Squadron RNZAF Bristol Freighter in Thailand, 1962.]]
;{{NZL}} 
*[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]
**[[No. 1 Squadron RNZAF]]
**[[No. 3 Squadron RNZAF]]
**[[No. 41 Squadron RNZAF]]
**[[Transport Support Unit RNZAF]]
[[File:Pakistan Air Force Bristol Freighter.jpg|thumb|A Bristol Freighter of the Pakistan Air Force]]
;{{PAK}} 
*[[Pakistan Air Force|Royal Pakistan Air Force]]
**[[No. 6 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 6 Squadron "Antelopes"]]<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CW7L7yjISyY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= | title=Today in History (No. 6 Squadron "Antelopes")|website=Instagram |date=1 December 2021|publisher=DGPR Pakistan Air Force}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://paf.gov.pk/#/event-details/paf%E2%80%99s-prestigious-no-6-squadron-celebrates-its-75th-anniversary@106|title=PAF'S PRESTIGIOUS NO 6 SQUADRON CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY|website=Pakistan Air Force|date=3 December 2017|access-date=14 October 2022|archive-date=26 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826081717/https://paf.gov.pk/#/event-details/paf%E2%80%99s-prestigious-no-6-squadron-celebrates-its-75th-anniversary@106|url-status=dead}}</ref>
;{{UK}} 
*[[Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment|A&AEE Boscombe Down]]
*[[Telecommunications Research Establishment]] (TRE)
{{Div col end}}

==Accidents and incidents==
{{Main|List of accidents and incidents involving the Bristol Freighter}}
Sixty-eight of the 214 Freighters built were destroyed or damaged beyond economical repair in accidents. At least 45 of these were fatal, resulting in the deaths of at least 385 passengers and crew.<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/type/type-stat.php?type=110 "Bristol 170."] ''Aviation Safety Net''. Retrieved: 12 January 2013.</ref>

==Surviving aircraft==
Of 214 aircraft produced, there are 11 complete airframes of varying quality that survive in the 21st century.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-05 |title=Bristol Freighter returns home after 40 years in New Zealand - Air Cargo Week |url=https://aircargoweek.com/bristol-freighter-returns-home-40-years-zealand/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=aircargoweek.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Argentina===
[[File:TC-330 Bristol B170 Freighter Fuerza Aerea Argentina (7310839554).jpg|thumb|right|TC-330 at the [[Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina]]]]

;On display
*Mk 1A ''TC-330'' of the Argentine Air Force at [[Museo Nacional de Aeronáutica de Argentina]], Morón, Buenos Aires.<ref name="bae herti" />

===Australia===
[[File:Bristol Freighter A81-1 on display at the RAAF Museum.jpg|A81-1 at the RAAF Museum|thumb|right]]
;On display
*Mk 21 ''A81-1'' at [[RAAF Museum|Royal Australian Air Force Museum]], [[Point Cook, Victoria]].<ref name="bae herti" />
*Mk 31M ''VH-ADL'' at the [[Australian National Aviation Museum]], Moorabbin Airport, Melbourne.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aarg.com.au/bristol-freighter.html|title=Freighter|website=Australian National Aviation Museum}}</ref><ref name="bae herti" />

===Canada===
;On display
*Mk 31M ''CF-WAE'', former Royal Canadian Air Force and [[Norcanair]] aircraft at Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, Manitoba.<ref name="bae herti" />
*Mk 31 ''C-GYQS'', former Royal New Zealand Air Force (NZ5907) and civil aircraft, at the [[Reynolds-Alberta Museum]], Wetaskiwin Airport, Alberta, in its final [[Hawkair]] markings.<ref name="bae herti" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Aviation |url=https://reynoldsmuseum.ca/aviation |website=Reynolds Museum |publisher=Government of Alberta |access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref>
*Mk 31 ''CF-TFX'', on display (in [[Wardair]] colours) at [[Yellowknife Airport]], Yellowknife, ([[Northwest Territories|NT]]).<ref name="bae herti" />

;Derelict
*Stripped hulk of Mk 31M ''CF-TFZ'' on the shore of [[Beaverlodge Lake]], [[Saskatchewan]], where it crashed in 1956.

[[File:Bristol Freighter at Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.jpg|thumb|right|Safe Air Freighter 31 preserved at Omaka, NZ]]

===New Zealand===
;On display
*Mk 31M ''NZ5903'', at the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum]].
*Mk 31M ''NZ5906'', outdoor display and used as two-bedroom motel accommodation, Woodlyn Park, near [[Waitomo Caves]].
*Mk 31M ''ZK-CLU'', outdoor display at [[Founders Heritage Park]], Nelson.
*Mk 31E ''ZK-CPT'', in SAFE Air colours, at the [[Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre|Omaka Aerodrome]], Blenheim.<ref name="bae herti" /> The aircraft has been restored and can taxi, but does not fly.

;Fuselage only

* The Ferrymead Aeronautical Society holds the forward fuselage section of the ex-SAFE Air ZK-CRK and the cockpit deck of ZK-AYG

*Fuselage of Mk 31M ''NZ5902''/''ZK-EPA'' sits derelict on private property at Awhitu, near Auckland and is for sale in July 2021 and creating a lot of media interest <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300362148/fuselage-of-1950s-freighter-aircraft-listed-for-sale-on-trade-me|title=fuselage of 1950s freighter aircraft listed for sale on trade me|website=Stuff.co.nz|date=20 July 2021}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
;In storage
*Mk 31M ''NZ5911'', currently being restored by [[Aerospace Bristol]]. Shipped from New Zealand.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-42566093 "Bristol Freighter aeroplane to be restored in city"] BBC 4 January 2018</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Support the Bristol Type 170 Freighter|url=http://aerospacebristol.org/freighter/|website=aerospacebristol.org|access-date=17 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118064523/http://aerospacebristol.org/freighter/|archive-date=18 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Specifications (Freighter Mk.31)==
[[File:Front end of a Bristol Air Freighter with folding helicopter in its hold (6016222111).jpg|thumb|Cargo hold of a Freighter]]
[[File:1969-Chiếc xe tải từ Bồng Sơn xuống để lấy thư của họ.Pete Stitt trong xe tải 3 4 tấn. Tôi nghĩ đó là ngày đầu tiên của Pete ở Qui Nhơn. (9677356409).jpg|thumb|NZ Services Medical Team collecting supplies from an RNZAF Bristol Freighter at Qui Nhon, South Vietnam, 1969]]

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1953–54<ref name=JAWA53-54>{{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1953–54 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1953 |location=London |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd |pages=55–57}}</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=3
|capacity={{cvt|22300|cuft|m3}} cargo hold,  {{cvt|16184|lb}} payload inc fuel
|length ft=68
|length in=4
|length note=
|span ft=108
|span in=0
|span note=
|height ft=21
|height in=8
|height note=<ref name=Barnes>{{cite book |last=Barnes |first=C.H. |title=Bristol Aircraft since 1910 |year=1964 |edition=1st |publisher=Putnam & Company Ltd. |location=London |pages=330–343}}</ref>
|wing area sqft=1487
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=[[RAF 28]] (modified)<ref name="UIUC">{{cite web |title=UIUC Airfoil Data Site |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/coord_database.html#R |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight lb=26910
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=44000
|gross weight note= all marks
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity= {{cvt|1170|impgal|USgal l}} total<ref>2 x {{cvt|350|impgal|USgal l}} + 2 x {{cvt|135|impgal|USgal l}} + 2 x {{cvt|100|impgal|USgal l}}</ref>
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Bristol Hercules 734]]
|eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines
|eng1 hp=2000
|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=4
|prop name=[[de Havilland]] constant-speed fully-feathering metal propellers
|prop dia ft=14
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph=225
|max speed note=at {{cvt|3000|ft}}
|cruise speed mph=164
|cruise speed note= recommended, at {{cvt|5000|ft}}
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed note=
|range miles=820
|range note=with {{cvt|12000|lb}} payload<ref>{{cvt|1250|mi|nmi km}} with {{cvt|10000|lb}} payload, and {{cvt|1670|mi|nmi km}} with {{cvt|8000|lb}} payload</ref> 
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=23000
|ceiling note=at max. continuous power and {{cvt|38000|lb}}<ref>Single-engined ceiling was {{cvt|12900|ft}} at {{cvt|38000|lb}} with emergency climb power</ref>
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ftmin=250
|climb rate note=on one engine at fully loaded weight
|time to altitude= {{cvt|10000|ft}} in 10 minutes at max. continuous power
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|11|lb/hp}}
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=<br />
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|50|ft}}:''' {{cvt|2500|ft}} in a {{cvt|5|mph|kn km/h}} wind
*'''Landing distance from {{cvt|50|ft}}:''' {{cvt|2300|ft}} in a {{cvt|5|mph|kn km/h}} wind
}}

==See also==
{{External media|topic= |width=22% |float=right |video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFXn5JzGljc Video of the First Taxi Run of Bristol Freighter in 20 Years] |video2=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKH_-WD75Lw Extended footage of a Bristol Freight in a film] |video3=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roQOcqAlY5M Documentary of Freighter operations in New Zealand]}}
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
*[[Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy]]
*[[Aviation Traders Carvair]]
*[[Blackburn Beverley]]
|see also=
|lists=
}}
{{-}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Barnes, C. H., ''Bristol Aircraft since 1910'' (2nd ed). London: Putnam, 1970. {{ISBN|978-0-370-00015-2}}.
*{{cite magazine |last=Delmas |first=Jean |title=1935–1985, de l'Aéromaritime à l'UTA (fin)|magazine=Le Fana de l'Aviation |date=June 1985 |issue=187 |pages=12–19 |language=fr |ref={{harvid|Delmas ''Le Fana de l'Aviation'' June 1985}}}}
* Eastwood, Tony and John Roach. ''Piston Engine Airliner Production List''. West Drayton, UK: Aviation Hobby Shop, 1991. {{ISBN|0-907178-37-5}}. 
* ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft'' (Part Work 1982–1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
* Jackson, A.J. ''British Civil Aircraft Since 1919, Volume 1''. London: Putnam, 1974. {{ISBN|0-370-10006-9}}.
* King, Derek A. ''The Bristol 170, Freighter, Wayfarer and Superfreighter.''  Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2011. {{ISBN|978-0-85130-405-2}}.
* Shackleton, W. S.,[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%200336.html ''Dealing with Some New Facts and Figures of the Bristol Freighter''] [[Flight International]], 5 February 1945, pp.&nbsp;176–179. 
* Stroud, John. "Post-War Propliners: Bristol Freigher". ''[[Aeroplane Monthly]]'', July 1993, Vol. 22, No. 7. pp. 50–55. {{ISSN|0143-7240}}|
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1944/1944%20-%202421.html "The Bristol Freighter."] ''Flight'', 23 November 1944. pp.&nbsp;555–556.
* {{Citation |journal=Flight |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1946/1946%20-%200459.html |title=Freighter and Wayfarer |date=7 March 1946|pages=235–238 |number=1941 |volume=XLIX |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160305154028/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1946/1946%20-%200459.html  |archive-date=5 March 2016 }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bristol Freighter}}
* {{citation |journal=Flight |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%200336.html |title=Cargo Aircraft: Part II. Dealing with Some New Facts and Figures of the Bristol Freighter |date=1945 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061008145240/http://www.airforcemuseum.co.nz/main/BristolFreighter/ RNZAF Museum Freighter page]
* [http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/JetAgeRMC_Bristol170.htm Bristol Type 170 – Freighter, Wayfarer and Superfreighter versions]
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1946/1946%20-%201613.html Showing the Flag] – The Bristol Freighter's Tour of North and South America
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1948/1948%20-%200158.html "Bristol Freighter ... turns car freighter!"] a 1948 advertisement for the Freighter in ''Flight''
* [https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1948/1948%20-%200237.html "New Bristol 170"] a 1948 ''Flight'' article
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140308193846/http://images.google.com/hosted/life/370b25e605d3bf0e.html LIFE photo of Bristol freighter locust sprayer in Iraq, 1959]

{{Bristol aircraft}}
{{ADF aircraft designations}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bristol Aeroplane Company aircraft|Freighter]]
[[Category:1940s British airliners]]
[[Category:1940s British cargo aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1945]]
[[Category:High-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]