This tandem rotor transport helicopter first flew on January 3, 1952. Only five prototypes were built but further development produced the Type 192 Belvedere which served in the RAF
It was the first twin rotor helicopter to be powered by two piston engines - essentially with two Type 171 engines and rotor heads. 
Built for development with Royal Navy, as 1x Mk.1 (XF785), 1x Mk.2 (XH379) and 3x Mk.3 (XE286, XE287, XE288). The development was cancelled in early Apr 1957 and a production contract never followed, as the Navy preferred the Whirlwind, despite differences in payload.
Specifications Type 173 |
Derivatives & Versions of Type 173 |
| Model | Year | History |
|---|---|---|
 Type 192 Belvedere 1958 | 1958 | The Bristol Type 192 was a development of the unsuccessful Type 173, designed in response to an RAF requirement for a general purpose, land based ... From the fifth airframe, the rotors fitted were all-metal, 4 bladed units. Production model controls and instruments allowed night operations and ... |
List of Operators of Type 173 |
| Years | Model | Org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016- |  Aerospace Bristol |
Global Distribution of Type 173 |
|
Construction Numbers |
| C/N | Built as | Year | History | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12871 | 1951 | 7648M,G-ALBN,XF785 | ||
| 12872 | G-AMJI,XH379 | |||
| 13204 | G-AMYF,XE286 | |||
| 13205 | G-AMYG,XE287 | |||
| 13206 | G-AMYH,G-AORB,XE288 |
