Boulton Paul Sidestrand

The Boulton Paul P.29 Sidestrand was a twin-engine biplane medium bomber of the Royal Air Force. Named after a village on the Norfolk coast near Boulton & Paul's factory in Norwich, the Sidestrand first flew in 1926 and entered service in 1928. It remained in service until 1936, only ever equipping one squadron; No. 101 Squadron RAF. It was an agile and relatively fast aircraft that was capable of aerobatic manoeuvres such as loops, rolls and spins.

Design and development
Boulton & Paul Ltd of Norwich built a series of twin-engined biplanes starting with the Bourges of 1918, which although not ordered into production, had demonstrated excellent performance and manoeuvrability, followed by the all-metal Bolton of 1922 and the smaller Bugle of 1923. In 1924, the Air Ministry issued Specification 9/24 for an all-metal, twin engined medium bomber, with an order for two prototypes following early in 1925.

The first aircraft flew in 1926 by C A Rea, Boulton & Pauls first full-time test pilot.

The village of Sidestrand, chosen for the aircraft name, was the home of the then Secretary of State for Air, Samuel Hoare

Only 20 Sidestrands were ever built. The first two, essentially prototypes, were designated the Sidestrand Mk I. Originally intended to be powered by two Napier Lion inline engines, the Mk I was eventually fitted with 425 hp (317 kW) Bristol Jupiter VI radial engines which also powered the first six production Sidestrands, designated the Sidestrand Mk II. The remaining 12 aircraft were powered by 460 hp (343 kW) Jupiter VIIFs and were designated the Sidestrand Mk III. The six Mk IIs were also re-engined to bring them up to the Mk III specification.

The Sidestrand had three open defensive gun positions; nose, dorsal and ventral. The crew usually consisted of three personnel; pilot, nose gunner and a single gunner for the dorsal or ventral positions, the choice depending on where each individual aircraft was intended to fly in a formation. Armament for each position was a single .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun, the gun being moved between the two rear positions as required. The Sidestrand's bombload was limited to 1,050 lb (476 kg) which did not compare favourably with its contemporaries such as the Martin B-10.

Operational history
Deliveries to the newly re-formed No. 101 Squadron at Bircham Newton began in 1928, the first batch of six aircraft being the Sidestrand Mk II with ungeared Bristol Jupiter VI engines. These were followed by nine of the Sidestrand Mk III variants with geared Jupiter VIII Fs, and the final three production aircraft were replacement Mk IIs. The squadron then moved to RAF Andover in 1929.

The Sidestrand inherited the good manoeuvrability of the Boulton Paul P. 7 Bourges, but despite proving to be an excellent aircraft for bombing and gunnery, only No. 101 Squadron was equipped. In the early 1930s a Sidestrand Mk III was fitted with Bristol Pegasus IM3 engines. This was intended to become the Sidestrand Mk IV, but eventually became the prototype for the redeveloped Boulton Paul Overstrand which would begin replacing the Sidestrand in service in 1936. Four Sidestrands were eventually converted to Overstrand standard and essentially are considered Overstrands.

Variants

 * Sidestrand I
 * Two prototypes.


 * Sidestrand II
 * Production variant, six built converted to Sidestrand III.


 * Sidestrand III
 * Improved production variant, 12 built, four converted to Boulton Paul Overstrands.


 * Sidestrand V
 * Improved variant modified from a Mark III with more powerful engines, an enclosed cockpit and nose-mounted power-operated turret, renamed Overstrand

Operators

 * Royal Air Force
 * No. 101 Squadron RAF
 * No. 101 Squadron RAF