Served England throughout WWI and into the post war years in both fighter and light bomber roles. Did not retire from service until 1927. Over 100 photos, 40 detail dwgs, scale dwgs, 13 color paintings. 50 pgs.
In 1916 it became clear that a replacement for the BE2 series of reconnaissance aircraft was urgently needed. As a result, two designs were produced, the RES by the Royal Aircraft Factory and the R.2A by Bristols. The latter design was unusual in that it had the wooden box-type fuselage mounted in between the upper and lower wings (known as a mid-gap mounting) to minimize the restricted view over the upper wing which was a problem faced by the pilot in a more conventional layout. A second, revised variant which was powered by a 150 hp Hispano-Suiza engine with unequal-span wings was designated the R.2B. This, in turn, gave way to a variant with the new Rolls-Royce Falcon I engine.
This new aircraft was later redesignated as the F.2A. since the new design was now considered a fighter/reconnaissance type and an order for two prototypes (serials A3303-A3304) and fifty production variants (A3305 thru A3354) was placed by the War Office. The chief feature of this variant was a straight upper longeron coupled with two tall side-mounted "ear" radiators, and in this form the aircraft made its first flight on 9 September 1916. This was closely followed by the first flight of the second prototype, which was powered by a 150 hp Hispano-Suiza engine with a circular nose mounted radiator and was equipped with a tail skid built into the base of the rudder. Within a short time it was determined that the side mounted radiators obscured the pilot's forward view and A3303 was rebuilt with a nose mounted circular radiator and a deeper nose cowling.
Название: Bristol Fighter in Action
Издательство: Squadron/Signal publications
Серия: Aircraft number 137
Год издания: 1993
Автор(ы): Peter G. Cooksley
ISBN: 0897473019
Язык: English
Количество страниц: 52 Pages
Формат: pdf
Размер: 15.9 mb