Aircraft record
Boulton Paul Defiant
Defiant · Boulton Paul · United Kingdom
- Roles
- Fighter (Primary)
- Era
- World War II
- Status
- Retired
Reference data
Quick facts
- Manufacturer
- Boulton Paul
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Status
- Retired
Reference data
Historical Content
Development and Design
Aircraft family
The Boulton Paul Defiant was a British two-seat turret fighter developed before World War II. Unlike a conventional single-seat fighter, its main armament was carried in a powered turret operated by a second crew member. [1]
Aircraft family
The aircraft was intended to attack enemy formations using this unusual arrangement, but operational experience exposed important limitations when it faced conventional fighters. [1]
Operational History
Aircraft family
The Defiant saw combat during the Battle of Britain period, with mixed results. It subsequently found a more suitable role as a night fighter during 1940–1942. [1]
Aircraft family
Later in the war, Defiants were used for air-sea rescue and target-towing duties, extending the aircraft's service beyond its original fighter mission. [1]
Preserved Aircraft
Individual aircraft: N1671 · RAF Museum aircraft
The RAF Museum's Defiant N1671 served with No. 307 (Polish) Squadron RAF and later with No. 285 Squadron. It is the only surviving intact example of the type. [1]
Reference data
Specifications
Representative Variant Specifications
Defiant Mk I
These specifications apply to the Defiant Mk I variant and should not be read as values for every Defiant version.
Dimensions
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 10.77 m35 ft 4 in |
| Wingspan | 11.99 m39 ft 4 in |
Performance
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 488 km/h303 mile per hour at 16,500 ftat 16,500 ft |
Powerplant
piston · Defiant Mk I
Rolls-Royce Merlin III
Quantity: 1
Reference data
Variants
Recorded variants of this aircraft family. Variant entries here do not create separate public pages.
Reference data