Time Period: World War I
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Biplane, Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol F.2 Fighter Aircraft Overview
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter aircraft designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company during World War I. It was one of the most successful British fighter aircraft of the war, and it played a significant role in the air war over the Western Front.
The F.2 Fighter had a wooden frame covered in fabric and was powered by a 275 horsepower Rolls-Royce Falcon inline engine. It had a wingspan of 11.9 meters and a length of 7.7 meters. The aircraft was armed with forward-firing machine guns and a rear-facing Lewis gun for the observer.
The F.2 Fighter was designed for escort and reconnaissance duties, and it was widely used for these purposes during the war. It was also effective as a fighter, and its speed and maneuverability made it a formidable opponent against German aircraft.
The F.2 Fighter was also used for ground-attack missions, and it was particularly effective in this role due to its ability to carry a variety of bombs and rockets. The aircraft was used by several air forces after the war, including the Royal Air Force, and it remained in service until the mid-1930s.
In total, more than 5,000 Bristol F.2 Fighter aircraft were produced between 1916 and 1926, making it one of the most successful British aircraft designs of all time. The F.2 Fighter’s success helped establish the Bristol Aeroplane Company as one of the leading aircraft manufacturers in the world and contributed to the rapid development of aviation technology during this period.
Bristol F.2 Fighter Specifications
- Crew: 2
- Length: 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m)
- Wingspan: 39 ft 3 in (11.96 m)
- Height: 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m)
- Wing area: 405 sq ft (37.6 m2)
- Empty weight: 2,145 lb (973 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,243 lb (1,471 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Falcon III V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 275 hp (205 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller.
Bristol F.2 Fighter Performance
- Maximum speed: 123 mph (198 km/h, 107 kn)
- Range: 369 mi (594 km, 321 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
- Rate of climb: 889 ft/min (4.52 m/s)
Bristol F.2 Fighter Armament
- Guns: ** 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) forward-firing Vickers machine gun in the upper fuselage
- 1 or 2 × .303 in Lewis gun in the observer’s cockpit
- Bombs: 240 lb (110 kg) Cooper bombs.
Bristol F.2 Fighter Image Gallery
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