F.2B Fighter
Bristol · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · fighter
The Bristol F.2B was the outstanding two-seat fighter of the First World War, flown aggressively like a single-seater with the observer's gun as a bonus sting in the tail.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fuselage suspended between the wings, clear of the lower wing surface |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Big two-seat biplane with a gunner's ring mounting behind the pilot
- Fuselage suspended between the wings, clear of the lower wing surface
- Long inline-engined nose with a prominent radiator shutter front
Note the two open cockpits, the rear one ringed by a Scarff gun mounting, on a biplane far larger than the single-seat scouts. The fuselage sits midway between the wings with a visible gap above the lower wing, a unique Brisfit feature. The long Falcon-engined nose carries a car-like radiator front.
Specifications
- The F.2B Fighter has a length of 7.87 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.96 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 198 km/h (123 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in September 1916, the 'Brisfit' had a disastrous combat debut in April 1917 when flown defensively, but once crews attacked with the fixed front gun it became formidable. Powered by the Rolls-Royce Falcon, it served to the end of the war and far beyond. More than 5,300 were built.
Variants
The initial F.2A gave way to the definitive F.2B with improved view and the 275 hp Falcon III. Post-war Mk III and Mk IV versions soldiered on in army co-operation roles, and dozens of engine combinations were trialled when Falcons ran short.
Where you'll see it
The Bristol Fighter served the RAF until 1932, policing the Empire long after the Armistice. The Shuttleworth Collection flies D8096, a genuine 1918 machine, at Old Warden displays, and the RAF Museum preserves another. It is one of the most tangible links to the RFC still airworthy in Britain.
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