C.Barnes Bristol Aircraft since 1910 (Putnam)
The Bristol Monoplane (1911)
The first Bristol monoplane was designed by George Challenger and Archibald Low in January 1911 and was a single-seater incorporating both Bleriot and Antoinette features, having the warping wing of the former and the slim, triangular-section fuselage of the latter. The 50 h.p. Gnome engine was mounted in a steel frame, and the undercarriage was a simple arrangement of two wheels and a central skid anticipating that of the famous Avro 504 biplane. Two of these monoplanes (Nos. 35 and 36) were constructed in February 1911, and the first was sent to Larkhill for preliminary testing before returning to Filton to be prepared for the Olympia Exhibition in March. It attracted great interest there and the second monoplane was similarly shown at St. Petersburg from 23 to 30 April. When flight tests of No. 35 were attempted by Versepuy at Larkhill, the monoplane failed to take-off and was damaged, and no attempt was made to repair it, in view of Pierre Prier's impending arrival as a monoplane designer.
SPECIFICATION AND DATA
Type: Tractor Monoplane (1911)
Manufacturers: The British & Colonial Aeroplane Co. Ltd., Filton, Bristol
Power Plant: One 50 hp Gnome
Span: 33 ft 6 in
Length: 31 ft 6 in
Wing Area: 215 sq ft
Empty Weight: 580lb
All-up Weight: 760lb
Speed: 55 mph (estimated)
Accommodation: Pilot only
Production: 2
Sequence Nos.: 35,36
M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)
Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing
BRISTOL monoplane. (Challenger-Low 1911)
This single-seater was the first monoplane designed at Bristol, and two were built, the first arriving at Larkhill in February 1911. The tests were curtailed to return the machine to Filton to prepare it for exhibition at Olympia in March. The second machine was shown at St. Petersburg, Russia in April. The type was abandoned after unsuccessful attempts to fly at Larkhill by Versepuy. The machine had a triangular-section fuselage and warping wings.
Power: 50hp Gnome seven-cylinder air-cooled rotary.
Data
Span 33ft 6in
Length 31ft 6in
Area 215 sq ft
Weight 580 lb
Weight allup 760lb
Speed estimated 55 mph
Two aircraft built works Nos.35 and 36.
P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)
Bristol Monoplane
Two single-seat tractor monoplanes, works numbers 35 and 36, were built during 1911. They were powered by the 50 h.p. Gnome engine, the upper halves of which were cowled. Number 35 was shown at the Olympia Aero Show in March, 1911, and number 36 was shown at St. Petersburg a month later. Divided rudders were mounted above and below the one-piece elevator, and warping was used for the wings. Span, 33 ft. 6 ins. Length, 31 ft. 6 ins. Wing area, 215 sq. ft. Weight empty, 580 lb. Price, ? 1,000.
