Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol Aeroplane Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a two-seat biplane that broke the mould for observation aircraft, flown aggressively as a genuine fighter rather than a passive reconnaissance platform.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.87 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- two-bay staggered biplane wings with rounded tips
- prominent car-type nose radiator ahead of a Rolls-Royce Falcon engine
- observer's Scarff-ring-mounted gun in the rear cockpit
The staggered biplane wings, prominent nose radiator, and the observer's ring-mounted rear gun distinguish it from contemporary single-seat fighters.
Specifications
- The Bristol F.2 Fighter has a length of 7.87 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12 m (39 ft).
- Typical crew: 2 (pilot and observer/gunner).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1917 after a difficult combat debut, the 'Brisfit' was refined and flown offensively, using its forward-firing Vickers gun as well as the observer's flexible Lewis gun to become one of the most successful two-seaters of the First World War.
Variants
The F.2A gave way to the definitive F.2B with a strengthened, lowered lower wing for better pilot visibility; postwar it soldiered on in RAF service into the 1930s and was licence-built in Argentina.
Where you'll see it
It fought on the Western Front and in the Middle East during the war, and remained in RAF colonial-policing service for over a decade afterward.
Related aircraft
- Bristol Braemar
- Bristol Scout F
- Bristol Babe
- Bristol Tourer
- Airco DH.5
- Albatros D.I
- Albatros D.II
- Albatros D.IV
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