Bristol Bullfinch I1923 |
FIGHTER | Virtual Aircraft Museum / United Kingdom / Bristol |
In July 1920, Capt Frank Barnwell and his team began design work on an all-metal parasol fighter monoplane intended to be built in both single- and two-seat form, and three prototypes were ordered. In the event, wood was used for the wing construction of the prototypes, the fuselages being of steel tube. By March 1922, when the name Bullfinch was officially adopted, the decision had been taken to complete two of the prototypes as single-seaters, these being delivered in April 1923. Armed with two 7.7mm Vickers machine guns, the Bullfinch single-seaters were flown experimentally by the RAF and were found to offer a relatively good performance on the 425hp of a Bristol Jupiter III radial, but no production order was forthcoming. The third prototype was completed as the two-seat Bullfinch II.
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