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The Bristol Aircraft company was one of Britain's
first commercial and military airplane manufacturing firms. Less than a decade after the Wright Brothers
made their successful flight, the entire civilized world was scurrying to develop airplanes and vie
for the lead position. World War I broke out in Europe 1914, which created a huge demand for aerial
fighting platforms. Sir George White's company was willing and able to do so. Many famous designs came
from his factory, including the Bristol Scout and Bristol Bulldog. Scarcely a major scale model contest
is held where you do not find at least one of Bristol's designs. This two-page spread from a 1948 edition
of Air Trails gives some history on 20 Bristol aircraft.
Air Progress: The Bristol Story
By Douglas Rolfe
Organized in 1910 as the Bristol and Colonial Aircraft Company this is easily one of the oldest existing
aircraft firms. Its founder, the late Sir George White, foresaw the future of the airplane and insisted
on developing something better than the glorified box kites of early years.
First Bristol design (not illustrated here) was a modification of the Farman box kite, but the company
soon forged ahead with completely original designs. The Bristol Scout, produced between 1912 and 1913,
may rightly be considered the ancestor of the modern propeller-driven pursuit. The Bristol Fighter,
probably the greatest military design of World War I, could fly rings around most of the pursuits of
that era. With the pilot using the forward fixed gun or guns and the rear gunner manning twin guns on
a ring mount, it did much to establish Allied air superiority.
The extraordinary Bristol experimental monoplane of 1922 was not an unqualified success (a glance
at the drawing shows that the tail surfaces were inadequate, for one thing), but it reveals remarkable
engineering vision and clearly anticipated the mid-wing pursuits of World War II. During the late conflict
Bristol designs were spearheads of the attack. A squadron of Blenheims sought out and attacked the pocket
battleship "Deutschland" a few hours after war was declared in 1939.
1911 - Bristol-Prier
First original Bristol design
1912 - Bristol Military Monoplane
This daring design was produced in an age of flimsy box-kites and built-in headwinds!
1912-1914 - Bristol Scout
This little single-bay biplane was far ahead of contemporary design - powered with a 50-H.P. Gnome
Rotary Engine it had a speed range of from 40 to 90 M.P.H.
1917 - Bristol Fighter
This fabulous "Brisfit" of World War I fame could out-fly, out-fight and out-maneuver the best pursuits
of this era.
1922 - Bristol Experimental Monoplane
Produced more than a quarter of a century ago this radial-powered mid-wing monoplane affords striking
proof of Bristol's engineering vision.
1924 - Bristol Brandon
10-passenger air transport
1924 - Bristol Brownie
2-place ultra-light lightplane
1924 - Bristol Lucifer
Basic Trainer
1924 - Bristol Bloodhound
1926 - Bristol Badmington
1928 - Bristol Bulldog
Standard R.A.F. single-seat fighter for nearly a decade
1941 - Bristol Beaufighter
Formidable day and night fighter
1932 - Bristol Type 120
General purpose military 2-seater. Note early model gunners cupola which preceded the power turret
1930 - Bristol Bull-Pup
High-altitude interceptor-fighter
1948 - Bristol Brabazon
Now nearing completion this gigantic airliner has a wing span of 230 feet, is 177 feet long and seats
72 passengers plus a crew of 13. It is powered with 8 5,000-H.-P. gas-turbine engines completely buried
in the wings and coupled to 8 contra-rotating coaxial propellers. The Brabazon affords striking proof
of Bristol's progressive design policy.
1946 - Bristol Freighter
1940 - Bristol Beaufort
Costal command torpedo bomber
Three Stages in the evolution of the ubiquitous "Blenheim", famed R.A.F. medium range, all-purpose
workhorse of World War II
1941 - Bristol Blenheim VD
(Type 160-D)
1936 - Bristol Blenheim I.
(Type 142-M)
1935 - Bristol Type 142
Douglas Rolfe Drawings
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Post-Pusher Parade, May 1961 American Modeler
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Air Progress: The Jet Engine, July 1951 Air Trails
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Air Progress: The Bristol Story, November 1948 Air Trails
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Auto
Progress: Down Memory Lane III, December 1954 Air Trails
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Progress: Memory Lane Collection No. 2, August 1954 Air Trails
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Air Progress Famous Firsts, August 1954 Air Trails
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Air Progress: Japanese Air Force World War II Fighters, December 1954 Air Trails
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Air Progress: Lindbergh Era (1927-1929), July 1954 Air Trails
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Air Progress: The Search for Speed, November 1950 Air Trails
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Air Progress: Soviet Air Force Latter Day Types, March 1955 Air Trails
Posted March 21, 2015
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