Bristol Glider
British & Colonial Aeroplane Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1910 · glider
The Bristol Glider was an early British two-seat biplane glider designed in the 1910s by George Challenger and built by the British & Colonial Aeroplane Company at Filton Aerodrome, Bristol.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × none, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.32 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-seat biplane glider with a foreplane well ahead of the wings on wooden booms
- Long skids carrying small wheels
- Single tailplane with a small pair of rudders on four tapering booms
A biplane with a foreplane well ahead of the wings on wire-braced wooden booms, long skids carrying small wheels, and ailerons on the upper wing.
Specifications
- The Bristol Glider has a length of 10.32 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.86 m (32 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Challenger designed it for Sir George White, who had it built to present to the Bristol and West of England Aero Club after becoming its president in October 1910. It followed the layout of Challenger's earlier Bristol Boxkite.
Variants
It differed from the Boxkite in that four booms tapering together carried a single tailplane rather than a pair. The foreplane and tailplane moved together to control pitch.
Where you'll see it
The glider first flew from the landing ground at Keynsham on 17 December 1910, hand-towed into the air and piloted by Challenger. It was damaged in February 1911 and again more seriously in September 1911, and survived until 1912; the 30 hp engine it was designed to take was never installed.
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