Bristol Boxkite
British and Colonial Aeroplane Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1910 · light aircraft
The Bristol Boxkite, officially the Bristol Biplane, was the first aircraft built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company and one of the first aircraft types built in quantity.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.73 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-bay pusher biplane with a Gnome rotary engine behind the pilot
- Elevator on booms in front of the wings
- Pair of rudders on rear booms and no fixed vertical surfaces
A two-bay pusher biplane with an elevator on booms ahead of the wings, rudders on booms behind, and tandem seats carried forward of the engine.
Specifications
- The Bristol Boxkite has a length of 11.73 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.53 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 64 km/h (40 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was based on the Farman III after an attempt to copy a Voisin biplane failed. The first example flew at Larkhill on 30 July 1910.
Variants
The first two Boxkites differed in detail from later production aircraft: their front booms were braced by vertical struts and they had a straight-edged rear elevator.
Where you'll see it
Bristol used it at its flying schools at Larkhill and Brooklands, where many early British aviators learned to fly. Four were bought by the War Office in 1911 and others went to Russia and Australia.
Related aircraft
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