Bristol F.2 Fighter
_(30273241577).jpg) Bristol F.2 Fighter. Photo: Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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| Make | Bristol |
|---|---|
| Model | Bristol F.2 Fighter |
| Type | Biplane fighter aircraft |
| Country |  United Kingdom
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| First flight | 9 September 1916 |
| Built | 1916–1927 |
| Number built | 5,329 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Engine | Rolls-Royce Falcon III, 275 hp |
| Range | 369 mi (F.2B) |
| Service ceiling | 18,000 ft (F.2B) |
| Max weight | 3,243 lb (F.2B)
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| More aircraft · For sale | |
The Bristol F.2 Fighter, usually called the Bristol Fighter, "Brisfit" or "Biff", is a British two-seat World War I fighter and reconnaissance biplane designed by Frank Barnwell.[1] In all, 5,329 were built, and it stayed in military service into the early 1930s.[1] None are on the U.S. civil register.[2]
History
The airplane was meant to replace the older B.E.2c reconnaissance airplane, but the new Rolls-Royce Falcon V12 engine gave it a fighter's performance.[1] It first flew on September 9, 1916.[1] Its debut in combat went badly, but the definitive F.2B proved maneuverable enough to hold its own against single-seat fighters, and it was tough.[1] After the war some were registered for civilian use, and some were converted with passenger cabins.[1]
Specifications (F.2B)
| Item | F.2B |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
| Length | 25 ft 10 in |
| Wingspan | 39 ft 3 in |
| Height | 9 ft 9 in |
| Wing area | 405 sq ft |
| Empty weight | 2,145 lb |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 3,243 lb |
| Engine | Rolls-Royce Falcon III, 275 hp (V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine) |
| Propeller | fixed-pitch propeller |
| Maximum speed | 123 mph |
| Range | 369 mi |
| Service ceiling | 18,000 ft |
| Rate of climb | 889 ft/min |
Figures as given in the Wikipedia article and its sources.[1]
Photos
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A pair of Bristol F.2B Fighters in flight. Photo: see the file page on Commons, Public domain -
Bristol F.2 Fighter. Photo: Ian Dunster, CC BY-SA 2.0 uk -
Bristol F.2 Fighter. Photo: James Hurley, Public domain -
View of 4 gun Bristol fighter of 22 sq. Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain -
Bristol F2B Fighter D8096 was built in 1918 and served in 208 Squadron in Turkey after the end of World War I. Photo: Colgill, CC BY-SA 4.0
_(30273241577).jpg){kind=link}
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons; click a photo for its full credit and license.
Buying a Bristol F.2 Fighter
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Wikipedia, "Bristol F.2 Fighter", read November 1, 2026. Airplane Wiki's text is written in its own words; facts are checked against this article and its sources.
- ↑ Federal Aviation Administration, Releasable Aircraft Database, file dated October 30, 2026. Valid registrations of fixed-wing airplanes whose FAA maker and model names belong to this family. Airplane Wiki uses only counts from this file, never owner names or addresses.