Bristol M.1

The Bristol M.1 was a British single-seat fighter and the only monoplane built in Britain during the First World War.

 

Development and construction:

When German monoplanes dominated the airspace over the western front in 1916 and the British fighter planes with pressure propellers were no match for them, the chief designer Frank Barnwell started on his own initiative with the development of a plane of equal value in the company Bristol Airplane Company.

Overall, the design was very aerodynamic and also the first round cover of the engine made for low air resistance. The engine was the powerful 110 hp Le-Rhône 9J rotary engine installed, which could bring the aircraft to a speed of around 209 km / h.

The armament was a synchronized with the gearbox of the engine Vickers machine gun.

On July 14, 1916, the first flight of the prototype took place. After the British Ministry of Defense had bought and tested this themselves, they came to the decision that both climbing ability and speed convinced and exceeded the performance of the German Fokker and the French Morane-Saulnier N aircraft.

The only complaint was the poor visibility of the pilot backwards and downwards during the landing. From the British pilots themselves, the bad experience with the Morane-Saulnier monoplanes flowed, so that the plane encountered rather refusal.

Despite the refusal, four more aircraft were ordered in October 1916 in addition to the prototype.

On August 3, 1917, another 125 pieces were ordered, and there were some changes compared to the predecessor models.

 

 

 

 

 

Use in the First World War:

Although the Bristol M.1 was at least equal to the German monoplane aircraft, only 33 units were brought to the Middle East and the Balkans to the front, the remaining aircraft remained in the UK for training.

In the Middle East, the aircraft were used primarily in the fight against the soldiers of the Ottoman army, because they lacked the range to serve as escort.

In Britain, the Bristol M.1 aircraft were often used by British officers for private flights and races.

In the second half of 1918, 12 of the Bristol M.1 aircraft went to Chile to compensate for the use of battleships Almirante Latorre and Almirante Cochrane, which were built in the UK for Chile, but used during the war by the Royal Navy were.

After the First World War, many of the aircraft were sold to private individuals who used them for several years at races or air shows.

 

 

 

Technical specifications:

Designation:	Bristol M.1
Country:	Great Britain
Typ:	Fighter plane
Length:	6,24 meters
Span:	9,37 meters
Height:	2,37 meters
Mass:	975 kg empty
Crew:	Max. 1
Engine:	One Le Rhône 9J circulating engine with 110 hp
Maximum speed:	209 km/h
Reach:	Max. 1 hour and 45 minutes
Armament:	One rigid 7,7mm Vickers machine gun

 

 

 

 

 

You can find the right literature here:

 

The First Air War, 1914-1918

In this concise study, Kennett tells the complete story of World War I's air battles, from Eastern to Western front, from the skies of Europe and its seas to those of the Middle East and Africa.

Click here!

 

 

Aircraft of World War I 1914-1918 (Essential Identification Guide)

Illustrated with detailed artworks of combat aircraft and their markings, Aircraft of World War I: The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide is a comprehensive study of the aircraft that fought in the Great War of 1914–18. Arranged chronologically by theatre of war and campaign, this book offers a complete organizational breakdown of the units on all the fronts, including the Eastern and Italian Fronts. Each campaign includes a compact history of the role and impact of aircraft on the course of the conflict, as well as orders of battle, lists of commanders and campaign aces such as Manfred von Richtofen, Eddie Rickenbacker, Albert Ball and many more. Every type of aircraft is featured, including the numerous variations and types of well- known models, such as the Fokker Dr.I, the Sopwith Camel and the SPAD SVII, through to lesser-known aircraft, such as the Rumpler C.1, and the Amstrong Whitworth FK8. Each aircraft profile is accompanied by exhaustive specifications, as well as details of individual and unit markings. Packed with more than 200 color profiles of every major type of combat aircraft from the era, Aircraft of World War I 1914–1918 is an essential reference guide for modellers, military historians and aircraft enthusiasts.

Click here!

 

 

World War One Aircraft Carrier Pioneer: The Story and Diaries of Captain JM McCleery RNAS/RAF

Jack McCleery was born in Belfast in 1898, the son of a mill owning family. He joined the RNAS in 1916 as a Probationary Flight Officer. During the next ten months he completed his training at Crystal Palace, Eastchurch, Cranwell, Frieston, Calshot and Isle of Grain, flying more than a dozen landplanes, seaplanes and flying boats, gaining his wings as a Flight Sub-Lieutenant. In July 1917 he was posted to the newly commissioning aircraft carrier HMS Furious, which would be based at Scapa Flow and Rosyth. He served in this ship until February 1919, flying Short 184 seaplanes and then Sopwith 1½ Strutters off the deck. He also flew a large number of other types during this time from shore stations at Turnhouse, East Fortune and Donibristle.

He served with important and well-known naval airmen including Dunning, Rutland (of Jutland) and Bell Davies VC. He witnessed Dunning’s first successful landing on a carrier flying a Sopwith Pup in 1917 and his tragic death a few days later. He also witnessed the Tondern raid in 1918, the world’s first carrier strike mission. He took part in more than a dozen sweeps into the North Sea by elements of the Grand Fleet and Battle Cruiser Fleet. He carried out reconnaissance missions off the coast of Denmark, landing in the sea to be picked up by waiting destroyers. He witnessed the surrender of the High Seas Fleet. Promoted to Captain, he acted as temporary CO of F Squadron for a time postwar.

Click here!

 

 

A World War 1 Adventure: The Life and Times of RNAS Bomber Pilot Donald E. Harkness

A deeply personal and revealing eyewitness narrative of one airman's life as a bomber pilot in England 's RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) in WWI. It is a true story, an adventure, and a war memoir carefully constructed from Captain Donald E. Harkness's unpublished diaries, letters, sketches and photographs - only recently uncovered nearly a century later - that documented his remarkable experiences and military adventures over England, France and Belgium. The first book written by a highly decorated WWI flyer from New Zealand that captures the "behind the scenes" life of RNAS pilots, as well as the surprises, terrors, traumas, humor, and sheer excitement of an aerial form of combat never before experienced by anyone, anywhere - and only eleven short years after the Wright Brothers historic flight at Kitty Hawk. With a talent for writing, Don begins an epic journey at a major turning point in history when the world is poised at the dawn of flight, and bracing itself for unknown dangers of unprecedented sophistication and savagery. Don's journal reveals unique insights and vivid imagery of another time and experience, to wit: - the terror and devastation of a Zeppelin bombing raid in London - the training regimen of early flying schools, and their serious & comic episodes - the wonder, awe, and poetry of flying aloft in the majestic heavens - vivid bombing raids, plus the raid that earned him the DSC - his crash-landing and capture - working with the underground to help downed pilots evade capture - London's unrestrained exuberance on Armistice Day; . . . and much, much more.

Click here!

 

 

 

 

 

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