Boulton and Paul P.7 Bourges

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Type Description

Production Details

Production Summary

P.7 Bourges Mk.IA
Due to engine development problems, the Mk.IIA actually preceded the Mk.IA. Converted from the Mk.IIA but featuring Two 320 h.p. ABC Dragonfly powerplants mounted in the middle of the wing gap on the innermost struts, in a closely-cowled arrangement with large spinners and two bladed propellers.

P.7 Bourges Mk.IA Specification
Span	Length	Height	Wing Area	Empty Wt	Max AUW	Cruise Speed	Maximum Speed	Endurance	Service Ceiling
57 ft 4 in	37 ft	12 ft	738 sq ft	3820 lb	6326 lb		124 mph/ 108 kn	9hr 15min	20000 ft
17.48 m	11.28 m	3.66 m	68.56 m2	1733 kg	2869 kg		200 km/h		6096 m

P.7 Bourges Mk.IB
Similar to the Mk.IA but given a gull-wing upper wing, with the central section of the wings attached directly to the upper fuselage and dihedral as far as the engines, and a modified fin and rudder, in an attempt to improve the field of fire for the rear gunner. This aircraft also had the engines moved from their original position in the middle of the wing gap, down to the lower wings, after this was proved to reduce drag.

P.7 Bourges Mk.IIA
Three seat biplane close support light bomber. It was a three bay unstaggered biplane, with ailerons fitted to all mainplanes (horn balanced after early flight trials). It carried a crew of three - a nose gunner/ bomb aimer, pilot and rear gunner. It was armed with four .303 in Lewis machine guns (two in the nose position and two in the rear gunner's position) and had an internal bomb bay carried between the lower wing spars for 4× 230 lb bombs. Both the bomb aimer and pilot could release the bombs. A camera position was located just in front of the rear gunner, who also acted as the camera operator. The structure was made from spruce, with a fabric covering. The fuselage was a simple wire-braced box-section structure, with flat sides. The horizontal tail surfaces were level with the top of the rear fuselage, and supported by two struts. It had a wide track undercarriage, with the main wheels mounted on V struts below the engines, and extra bracing running to the base of the fuselage. Two 230 h.p. Bentley B.R.2 powerplants, mounted in the middle of the wing gap on the innermost struts, with two bladed propellers.

P.7 Bourges Mk.IIB
Converted from Mk.IB but featuring 230 h.p. Bentley B.R.2 powerplants driving two bladed propellers.

P.7B Bourges Mk.IIIA
As Mk.IA but featuring 450 h.p. Napier Lion IIB powerplants, mounted on the lower wings, driving four bladed propellers. The mainwheels were moved slightly outboard of the engines. (But see note 1).

Serial Range	C/n	Type	Batch Qty	Conv.	Canc'd	Notes
3 aircraft ordered from the Aircraft Department of Boulton and Paul Ltd, Mousehold, Norwich, Norfolk, to Contract 35A/909/C730.
F2903	P.7/1	Mk.IIA	1			First flew June 1919.
(F2903)		Mk.IA		(1)		Converted from Mk.IIA July 1919 as K-129/G-EACE, retained by Boulton and Paul as a demonstrator.
F2904	P.7/2	Mk.IB	1			First flew early 1920.
F2905	P.7/3	Mk.IB	1			(See Note 1)
(F2905)		Mk.IIB		(1)		Converted from Mk.IB F2905. (See Note 1)
(F2905)		Mk.IIIA		(1)		Converted from sole Mk.IIB. First flew December 1920. (See Note 1)
(F2905)		Mk.IIIB		(1)		Converted from sole Mk.IIIA. First flew 1921. (See Note 1)
	Total Production		3	(4)

All Aircraft By Mark

Brew [1] refers to F2905 only as a Mk.IIIA, but both Mason [2] and Halley [3] give the conversions shown here.

Boulton Paul Aircraft Since 1915, Alec Brew (Putnam, 1993)
British Bomber Since 1914, Francis K. Mason (Putnam, 1994)
Royal Air Force Aircraft J1 - J9999, RAF Aircraft Register Series (Air-Britain Publications, 1987)

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Revised at Version 2.0.0