Valom 72099 Bristol Bombay Mk.I early production

The Bristol Type 130 Bombay was a British high-wing, mixed-type, solid-undercarriage bomber and transport aircraft from the interwar period and World War II. The drive was provided by two motors Bristol Pegasus XXII with a power of 1010 HP each. The prototype flight took place in 1935. 50 examples of this aircraft were produced in the course of serial production. They were armed with two 7.7 mm Vickers machine guns and a load of up to 907 kg of bombs.

The Bristol Bombay was created in response to an order from the British Air Force looking for a transport aircraft capable of carrying up to 24 soldiers and capable of carrying 900-1000 kg of bombs. Originally, 80 aircraft of this type were planned to be produced, but the order was eventually reduced to 50. Due to a certain anachronism of construction and the introduction of much more modern bombers into service (especially Vickers Wellington), Bristol Bombay planes quickly began to be moved to the colonies, especially to Africa and the Middle East. There, in 1940 in Egypt, they underwent their baptism of fire. They also took part in the evacuation of British troops from Greece in 1941. It is worth adding that the Greek royal family evacuated from Athens on board the Bristol Bombay plane. After 1941, they were used primarily as transport aircraft. The last Bristol Bombay machines were withdrawn from the line in 1944.