Bristol Boxkite
The Bristol Boxkite (English: box kite ) was a double-decker aircraft of the British manufacturer British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, in 1920 renamed the Bristol Aircraft Company, from the year 1910.
History and construction
After the first aircraft of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company - the licensed construction of a Zodiak of Voisin - had turned in its flight services to be inadequate, the company founder George Stanley White got a Farman Boxkite and built this airplane to - not without at his machine, Bristol Boxkite known to have made several changes and improvements. These modifications kept White from being prosecuted by Henri Farman because of a copyright violation.
(Also called Biplane 1910 ) The maiden flight of the first build Boxkite was held in Larkhill on 30 July 1910. Was equipped this machine with a Gnome rotary engine with an output of 37 kW (50 PS), after the originally planned Gregoire four-cylinder engine of the same power had proved inadequate.
A second Boxkite received an ENV eight-cylinder engine, also with 37 kW. Both machines were used as training aircraft in the founded of White flight schools at Brooklands and Larkhill.
The first order for eight aircraft was issued by the Government of Russia, the Boxkites were intended for use as a training aircraft. In April 1911, payable with a 52 kW ( 70 hp ) Gnome engine and an enlarged fuel tank equipped aircraft were delivered.
As of March 1911, the first appointments were made by the British military.
Overall, the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company was able to sell 76 Boxkites, for that time an impressive number of items.
Military use
- Australian Flying Corps
- South African Aviation Corps
- Royal Flying Corps
- Royal Naval Air Service