Bristol Boxkite
| Bristol Boxkite | |
|---|---|
 Replica of the Bristol Boxkite in the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery |
|
| Type: | Trainer aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
July 30, 1910 |
| Number of pieces: |
76 |
The Bristol Boxkite (English: box kite) was a double-decker - aircraft of the British manufacturer British and Colonial Airplane Company , in 1920 renamed the Bristol Airplane Company , from 1910.
History and construction
After the first aircraft of the British and Colonial Airplane Company - the licensed construction of a Zodiak from Voisin - had proven to be inadequate in its flight performance, company founder George Stanley White obtained a Farman III and built this aircraft - not without using his machine, Bristol Boxkite said to have made various changes and improvements. These modifications saved White from being sued for copyright infringement by Henri Farman .
The maiden flight of the first built box kite (also known as 1910 Biplane ) took place on July 30, 1910 in Larkhill . This machine was equipped with a Gnome rotary engine with an output of 37 kW (50 HP) after the originally planned Gregoire four-cylinder engine of the same output had proven to be inadequate.
A second boxkite received an ENV eight-cylinder engine with 37 kW as well. Both machines served as training aircraft in the flight schools founded by White in Brooklands and Larkhill .
The first order for eight machines was placed by the Russian government, the box kites were intended for use as training aircraft. In April 1911, the machines equipped with a 52 kW (70 hp) Gnome engine and an enlarged fuel tank were delivered.
The first orders were placed by the British military from March 1911.
The British and Colonial Airplane Company was able to sell a total of 76 box kites , an impressive number for the time.
Military use
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Technical specifications
| Bristol Boxkite | |
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| length | 11.73 m |
| height | 3.61 m |
| Wingspan | 14.17 m |
| Wing area | 48.03 m² |
| drive | a Gnome rotary engine with 52 kW (70 HP) |
| Top speed | 64 km / h |
| Empty weight | 408 kg |
| Max. Takeoff weight | 522 kg |
| crew | a pilot |
See also
literature
- CH Barnes: Bristol Aircraft since 1910. 3rd edition. Putnam, London 1988, ISBN 0-85177-823-2 .
- Derek N. James: The Bristol Airplane Company. Tempus, Stroud 2001, ISBN 0-7524-1754-1 .
- FW Merriam: First Through The Clouds. Batsford, London 1954.
- Harald Penrose: British Aviation. The Pioneer Years. Putnam, London 1967.
