The Bristol F.2 fighter series operated throughout the British Empire for decades, serving through World War 1 and through the interwar years. The system proved a viable fighter platform despite its origination as a reconnaissance aircraft consisting of a two-man crew. The biplane provided the Allies with a surefire response to the ever increasing lethality of the German types they faced. In the end, the F.2 series would be heralded as the best two-seat fighter platform of the entire conflict.
Initially, the aircraft was on the drawing boards as the R.2A reconnaissance plane with a Beardmore 120 horsepower engine in mind and staggered yet equal span wings were connected via pairs of parallel struts. Surplus of the Hispano-Suiza 150 horsepower engine forced a revision in the original thinking and produced the R.2B, this design featuring a sesquiplane wing arrangement with the lower span shorter than the upper. This particular model was also further developed to accept the Rolls-Royce Falcon type engines producing some 190 horsepower. The new powerplant now added crucial power the now redesignated F.2A airframe. F.2A's were delivered in a first batch of 50 aircraft.
In configuration, the pilot sat just behind and below the upper wing with a view over the long engine compartment. His observer - or rear gunner - took the second cockpit position with his single or dual trainable 7.7mm Lewis type machine gun(s). The pilot himself operated a single forward-firing synchronized Vickers machine gun affixed to the upper fuselage. A bomb load of up to 240lb was possible. Construction consisted of a wooden structure covered over with fabric.
Initial use of the F.2 proved awful as pilots were trained to put too much emphasis on providing better arcs of fire for their rear gunners - that a flight of multiple F.2's could work in conjunction on creating an impenetrable rear quadrant governed by their machine guns. This inevitably led to disastrous results. In one such early instance, six F.2's faced off against six (some sources state five) lethal Albatros D.III fighters - the result was four of the F.2's were lost to enemy fire. The F.2 would not see its "true" value in a dogfight until tactics were revised and pilots were allowed to treat their mounts as single-seat fighters - utilizing the aircraft's impressive speed and maneuverability as their primary tool in conjunction with their forward-firing machine gun - and relying on the rear gunner as an added bonus to the aircraft's rear defense. Once this melding of man and machine was achieved, the F.2 went on to become one of the more successful fighter designs of the war.
The F.2B followed as a further development of the F.2A - in all actuality it became the definitive model in the series. The B model featured a more powerful engine - the Rolls-Royce Falcon III water-cooled inline engine offering up 275 horsepower. Other subtle improvements led to better crew protection and fields of view. This model proved so successful, in fact, that it made up the rest of the entire F.2 series production line - outnumbering the preceding A-models by a hefty sum.
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Afghanistan; Australia; Belgium; Canada; Ireland; Greece; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Peru; Poland; Spain; Sweden; United Kingdom
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
Length
25.8 ft (7.87 m)
Width/Span
39.2 ft (11.96 m)
Height
9.7 ft (2.97 m)
Empty Wgt
2,150 lb (975 kg)
MTOW
3,250 lb (1,474 kg)
Wgt Diff
+1,100 lb (+499 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Bristol F.2B production variant)
biplane / over-under / straight
Biplane
Design utilizes a dual-plane wing arrangement in which one mainplane member is seated above the other; biplanes enhance agility at the expense of added drag.
Over-Under
Dual mainplane configuration seating the members in an over-under fashion and poisitoned at different points along the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the Bristol F.2B production variant)
Installed:
1 x Rolls Royce Falcon III inline piston engine developing 275 horsepower driving a two-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Bristol F.2B production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
STANDARD:
1 x 7.7mm Vickers machine gun synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades.
1 OR 2 7.7mm Lewis Machine Gun(s) on trainable in rear cockpit.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 2
R.2A - Originally Planned Reconnaissance Model' fitted with Beardmore 120hp engine.
R.2B - Sesquiplane Revision; smaller design that the R.2A fitted with Hispano-Suiza engine.
R.2B - Revision of the R.2B fitted with a Rolls-Royce Falcon series 190hp engine.
F.2A - Reclassification of all R.2 series aircraft; initial 50 example production models.
F.2B - Improved ruggedness and field of vision; modifications throughout; more powerful Rolls-Royce Falcon engines (275 horsepower).
F.2B Mk II - "Tropicalized" Variant for hot weather operations, particularly in the Middle East.
F.2B Mk III - Reinforced Model
F.2B Mk IV - Converted Mk III models with further strengthening of structure and landing gear systems; balanced rudder system implemented; automatic leading-edge slots introduced.
F.2C - Experimental Engine Platform(s)
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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High angled right side view of the Bristol F.2 fighter in flight
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Photo from the personal collection of Larry M. via email; Used with Permission.
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Afghanistan; Australia; Belgium; Canada; Ireland; Greece; Mexico; New Zealand; Norway; Peru; Poland; Spain; Sweden; United Kingdom
