Bristol F.2B Fighter

1917

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  FIGHTERVirtual Aircraft Museum / United Kingdom / Bristol  

Bristol F.2B Fighter

The F.2B two-seat fighter-reconnaissance aircraft differed from the F.2A in having a revised centre fuselage to provide improved pilot view, an enlarged fuel tank, increased ammunition capacity for the synchronised Vickers gun and a modified lower wing affording a small increase in gross area. New horizontal tail surfaces of greater span and increased aspect ratio were introduced, and after the first 150 F.2Bs had been delivered with the 190hp Rolls-Royce engine - by this time designated Falcon I - the 220hp Falcon II was adopted, this being succeeded in turn by the 275hp Falcon III which powered the majority of the F.2Bs built. F.2B deliveries began on 13 April 1917, and the success of this type led to the decision to re-equip all RFC fighter-reconnaissance squadrons with F.2Bs. Production continued, in the event, until September 1919, by which time a total number of 4,747 had been completed, 3,126 of these by the parent company. Of the final batch, 153 were delivered with the 200hp Sunbeam Arab engine and 18 with the 230hp Siddeley Puma. When the RAF was re-established on a peacetime footing, the F.2B was adopted as standard for the army co-operation role and reinstated in production for this task as the Mk II, others being refurbished to similar standards. Fifty structurally revised aircraft delivered in 1926 were designated as Mk Ills, all surviving aircraft of this mark being converted in 1928 as Mk IVs.

3-View 
Bristol F.2B FighterA three-view drawing (1280 x 872)

Specification 
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight1292 kg2848 lb
  Empty weight875 kg1929 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan11.96 m39 ft 3 in
  Length7.87 m26 ft 10 in
  Height2.97 m10 ft 9 in
  Wing area37.68 m2405.58 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed198 km/h123 mph

Comments
Barry, 12.03.2013 13:06

The Bristol model numbers for the F2A and F2B were in the range 14 - 17. This extremely capable aircraft flew with 14 foreign air forces and was manufactured in 10 British factories and three in the U.S.A. The last delivery was to Mexico and the last in service was withdrawn in 1938 from the RNZAF. One is still flown today by the Shutleworth Trust.

reply

Martin Wilkinson, e-mail, 30.11.2010 21:25

In answer to Michael Gibbon:

The Fe2b was a completely different aeroplane to the Bristol F2b. The Fe2b was a pusher two-seater produced by the Royal Aircraft Factory and was a much more primitive machine.

reply

Michael Gibbon, e-mail, 24.10.2010 19:26

My uncle was shot down on 6 Feb 1917 in what I believe was
a FE2B fighter reconnaissance deployed in France in 1916,
20th Squadron Royal Flying Corps, yet it reports the first batch of these planes arrived after that date, on 13th April. Can anyone please help

reply

Norm Clifford, e-mail, 12.08.2010 05:09

I would like to know the engine difference between the BF with a two blade prop and the BF with a four blader. Regards.

reply

troy, e-mail, 24.02.2010 06:15

Hi,

Would you be able to please tell me your source for the date of 13th april as the delivery date for the 1st batch of F2B? Any help would be veery much appreciated.

Many Thanks,

Troy

reply

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