Bristol Boxkite
For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.
Contents
Type Description
- Standard
- The original intention of building licensed copies of the Zodiac biplane having resulted in a highly unsuccessful machine, Chief Engineer George Challenger set about designing a similar aircraft, based primarily on Farman data published in Flight magazine, and partly on the abandoned Zodiac design. The result was a two seat two-bay pusher biplane based on the Farman III, with an elevator carried on booms in front of the wings and an empennage consisting of a pair of fixed horizontal stabilisers, the upper bearing an elevator, and a pair of rudders carried on booms behind the wing. There were no fixed vertical surfaces. Lateral control was effected by ailerons on both upper and lower wings. These were single-acting, the control cables arranged to pull them down only, relying on the airflow to return them to the neutral position. The wings and fixed rear horizontal surfaces were covered by a single layer of fabric: the other surfaces were covered on both sides. The engine was mounted on a pair of substantial wooden beams mounted above the lower wing: these continued forward to carry the seats, which were arranged in tandem, with the pilot sitting over the leading edge of the wing. The undercarriage consisted of a pair of long skids, each bearing a pair of wheels sprung by bungee cords, and a single sprung tailskid mounted below the leading edge of the lower tailplane The first two aircraft differed from all later Boxkites in having rear elevators with straight trailing edges and in having two, instead of one, intermediate vertical struts between each pair of upper and lower front booms. 50 h.p. Gnome Omega powerplant standard, but others as indicated, all driving a 2-bladed fixed-pitch pusher propeller, and some aircraft featured extended upper wings.
| Standard Specification | |||||||||
| Span | Length | Height | Wing Area | Empty Wt | Max AUW | Cruise Speed | Maximum Speed | Range | Service Ceiling |
| 34 ft 6 in | 38 ft 6 in | 11 ft 10 in | 457 sq ft | 800 lb | 1050 lb | 32 mph/ 28 kn | 40 mph/ 35 kn | ||
| 10.52 m | 11.73 m | 3.61 m | 42.46 m2 | 363 kg | 476 kg | 51 km/h | 64 km/h | ||
- Military
- As standard model but fitted with enlarged fuel tanks and triple rudders. 50 h.p. Gnome Omega powerplant standard, but others as indicated.
- Exhibition
- As standard model with enclosed nacelles and increased span. One 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma powerplant.
- Racer
- As Standard with reduced span wings and a small, single seat nacelle.
- Modified Exhibition
- As Exhibition Type with longitudinal tanks and a push-pull handwheel control replacing the control stick. One 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma powerplant.
- Voisin
- Standard type modified by Gabriel Voisin using standard wings but with reduced gap and the front elevator and booms deleted.. A single large rudder replaced the normal biplane unit.
Production Details
| Serial Range | C/n | Type | Batch Qty |
Conv. | Canc'd | Notes |
| 2 demonstration aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset. First flew 30 July, 1910. Later used by the Bristol Flying Schools. | ||||||
| 7 | Standard | 2 | To Bristol Flying School Brooklands. Initially powered by 50 h.p. Grégoire-Gyp, later 50 h.p. Gnome Omega. | |||
| 8 | To Bristol Flying School Larkhill. Powered by 50 h.p. E.N.V. Type A and featured double surface wing fabric. | |||||
| 8 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, in 1910. | ||||||
| 9 | Standard | 8 | To Bristol Flying School Larkhill; spare for the Indian Mission. | |||
| 10 | Specially prepared for Sales Mission to Australia. | |||||
| 11 | To Bristol Flying School Brooklands; spare for the Australian Mission. Sold to W. E. Hart, of Penrith, N.S.W., together with the unused spares, when the Mission left to return to England. | |||||
| 12 | Specially prepared for Sales Mission to India; first to have upper wing extensions. | |||||
| 12A | Lent to Oscar Morison, who flew it in various demonstrations and competitions. | |||||
| 14 | To Bristol Flying School Larkhill. | |||||
| 15 | To Bristol Flying School Brooklands. | |||||
| 16 | To Bristol Flying School Brooklands; fitted with extended wings and a 60 h.p. E.N.V. water-cooled engine. Later brought up to Military standard. Lent to Claude Grahame-White for an attempt to win the Baron de Forest prize but crashed. | |||||
| 11 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset for Russia, against an original order for 8. Delivered in April 1911 | ||||||
| 17 | Military | 11 | Lent to Claude Grahame-White before delivery for an attempt to win the Baron de Forest prize; caught fire soon after arrival at Dover. 50 h.p. Gnome Omega. | |||
| 18 | At first flown with 50 h.p. Gnome Omega, replaced by 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma before delivery in April 1911. Returned to UK and exchanged for No.26. | |||||
| 19 | At first flown with 50 h.p. Gnome Omega, replaced by 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma before delivery in April 1911. Returned to UK and exchanged for No.30. | |||||
| 20 | 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma. | |||||
| 21 | 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma. | |||||
| 22 | 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma. | |||||
| 23 | 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma. | |||||
| 24 | 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma. | |||||
| 25 | 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma. | |||||
| 26 | 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma. | |||||
| 30 | 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma. | |||||
| 2 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, and supplied to Joseph Christiaens, Belgium, for flying displays in Malaya and South Africa in 1911. | ||||||
| 27, 28 | Standard | 2 | C/n to John Weston, who became the Company's agent in South Africa. | |||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, in February 1911 for use by the Bristol Flying Schools. | ||||||
| 29 | Standard | 1 | To Bristol Flying School Brooklands. | |||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, in early 1911 for exhibition purposes. | ||||||
| 31 | Exhibition | 1 | Retained by Bristol. Exhibited in Olympia in March 1911. | |||
| 32 | 1 | Initially retained by Bristol. Exhibited in St. Petersburg, Russia in April 1911. Sold to Russia. | ||||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, and supplied to Oscar Morison. | ||||||
| 34 | Standard | 1 | ||||
| 4 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to a War Office Contract. Delivered between May and August 1911 | ||||||
| F4, F5 | 37, 38 | Military | 4 | 50 h.p. Gnome Omega. | ||
| F6, F9 (See note 2) | 39, 45 (? See note 1) | 60 h.p. Renault. | ||||
| 4 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, to a War Office Contract. Delivered in August 1911 | ||||||
| F7, F8 (see note 2) | 48, 49 | Military | 4 | 50 h.p. Gnome Omega; F7 and F8 later reserialled 408 and 407 respectively | ||
| 40, 41 | Engineless spare airframes | |||||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, in late 1911 for use by the Bristol Flying Schools. | ||||||
| 43 | Standard | 1 | To Bristol Flying School Larkhill. | |||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for Maurice Tetard, to compete in the Circuit de l'Europe. First flew May 1911. | ||||||
| 44 | Racer | 1 | ||||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, in late 1911 for a demonstration tour in France in September 1911. | ||||||
| 47 | Standard | 1 | Subsequently sold to the Bulgarian Government | |||
| 2 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset. Supplied to Spain in late 1911. | ||||||
| 60, 79 | Modified Exhibition |
2 | Built as a demonstrator for Spain and subsequently purchased by the Spanish Government.C/n 79 supplied as an engineless airframe and fitted with a 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma in Spain. | |||
| 7 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, in late 1911/1912 for unknown customer(s). | ||||||
| 55, 61-66 | Standard | 7 | ||||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for unknown customer. | ||||||
| 67 | Military | 1 | ||||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset . Delivered in November 1911. | ||||||
| 69 | Voisin | 1 | Redesigned machine by Gabriel Voisin. To Larkhill, February 1912 for comparison trials. Subsequently reverted to Standard Type. | |||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for unknown customer. | ||||||
| 93 | Military | 1 | ||||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the R.N.A.S. Delivered in October 1912. | ||||||
| 24 | 99 | Military | 1 | |||
| 7 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for unknown customer(s). | ||||||
| 119, 124-129 | Military | 7 | ||||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the Central Flying School of the Australian Flying Corps. Delivered March 1913. See note 5. | ||||||
| CFS3 | 133 | Military | 1 | |||
| 5 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for unknown customer(s). | ||||||
| 134-138 | Military | 4 | (1) | 134 was a rebuild of c/n 19. | ||
| 1 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the R.N.A.S. Delivered in February 1913. | ||||||
| 35 | 139 | Military | 1 | 70 h.p. Gnome Gamma powerplant. | ||
| 2 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for unknown customer(s). | ||||||
| 179, 180 | Military | 2 | ||||
| 6 aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset. Four, and possibly all six, for use by the Bristol Flying Schools. | ||||||
| 203, 204, 207, 222, 226, 347 |
Military | 6 | 203, 204, 226, 347 were impressed from the Bristol Flying School, Brooklands, and given serials 640, 641, 657 and possibly 718, order unknown. | |||
| 6 aircraft built by the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, Brislington, Somerset, for the R.N.A.S. to Contract C.P.56037/14. Delivered between October and December 1914. | ||||||
| 942 - 947 | 394-399 | Military | 6 | |||
| 24 aircraft built by the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, Brislington, Brislington, Somerset, for the R.N.A.S. to Contract C.P.57306/15. Delivered between September 1915 and January 1916. | ||||||
| 8442 - 8453 | 870-881 | Military | 12 | See note 3 | ||
| 8454 - 8573 | 882-893 | 12 | ||||
| Total Production | 102 | (1) | ||||
Production Summary
All Aircraft By Type
| Type | Built New | Conv | Canc'd | Total |
| Standard | 23 | 23 | ||
| Military | 73 | (1) | 74 | |
| Exhibition | 2 | 2 | ||
| Racer | 1 | 1 | ||
| Modified Exhibition | 2 | 2 | ||
| Voisin | 1 | 1 | ||
| 102 | (1) | 0 |
Notes
- Per Bruce [3], 'This Renault Boxkite was previously believed to be No.42, but it is now known that that Bristol sequence number belonged to the first Bristol Type T'. The indication here that it is No. 45 is an assumption by this author, but one that fits well with the allocation of sequence numbers.
- Although Nos 45 (but see note 1), 48 and 49 are known to have serials F7 to F9, the precise relationship between sequence number and serial is unknown.
- Per Bruce [3], this last production block had hitherto been wrongly identified as Bristol T.B.8s, consequently most reference sources quote a production total of 78 machines. Per the Bristol Air Ministry Contracts Ledger, Contract C.P.57306/15 covered 24 "School Biplanes", c/n's 870 - 893, serials 8442 - 8465. However, per Sturtivant [6], serials 8442 - 8465 belonged to 12 R.E.P. Parasol Tractor Monoplanes, the correct serials per Sturtivant being as shown.
- Although indicated new, many Boxkites were rebuilds of earlier machines, given new sequence numbers.
- Per ADF Serials [4]: A quote for an additional Boxkite was provided by Bristol on 08/04/1914 at a cost of £725 fitted with an 80Hp Gnome engine. On 17/06/1914 one was ordered but was not fulfilled; on 14/06/1915, Bristol advised ht the "Bristol Biplane" was no longer available. This lead to the construction of Boxkite CFS8 by the CFS. There is some controversy about calling CFS8 a Bristol Boxkite, in that its construction details are not fully known. No doubt, many spare Bristol parts were used, but a number of parts may have been made from scratch in Australia. So, as Australia's first locally-built military aircraft, the term Bristol perhaps should only apply to its design.
Production References
- Bristol Aircraft Since 1910, C.H. Barnes (Putnam, 1964, 1970 and 1988)
- Bristol Aeroplane Company, Derek N. James (Tempus, 2001)
- Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps, The, J.M. Bruce (Putnam, 1982)
- http://adf-serials.com.au/CMS/home
- Bristol Air Ministry Contracts Ledger via The Bristol Aero Collection Trust Library
- Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units, 1911-1919, Ray Sturtivant and Gordon Page (Air-Britain Publications, 1992)
- http://www.airhistory.org.uk/rfc/home.html
Page Revision History
Revised at Version 2.0.0- C/n 134 shown as a rebuild of c/n 19.
- Final production batch expanded and contract corrected.
- Note 3 expanded.
- Note 5 added.
- Contract C.P.56037/14 corrected - was Contract C.P.5603/14.
- Improved Type Description and Added Specification details.