Further refinements to the design, of which the most obvious was angling the front longerons downwards to improve pilot visibility, resulted in the F.2b appearing in April 1917. And a fighter it was, with over 240 pilots and gunners achieving ace status in the type before the end of the Great War. It was soon realized that Bristol’s fighter was actually a very sturdy aircraft that could, and should, be maneuvered as if it were a single seat fighter with rear protection.
Not surprisingly they were shot down just like slow and steady reconnaissance aircraft. Despite having the Bristol Fighter on strength for 3 months 48 Sqn thought it to be structurally unsound and, despite its name, flew them in a rather sedately manner similar to two seat reconnaissance aircraft, slow and steady as a platform for the rear gunner. Their operational debut on 5 April 1917 was somewhat less than successful.
An order was placed for 50 aircraft and the first production Bristol F.2a Fighter (A3303) made the types maiden flight on 9 September 1916.ĭeliveries of this new aircraft to 48 Squadron RFC started in December 1916 and continued through to March 1917 at which time they flew their 18 new Bristol F.2a Fighters to France. Initially conceived in early 1916 as the Bristol R.2a reconnaissance aircraft to replace the RFC’s aging BE2 series, Frank Barnwell’s design evolved into the Bristol Fighter in July 1916 following the incorporation of the brand new Rolls Royce 190hp ‘Falcon’ engine.