Bristol Coanda Monoplane

The Bristol Coanda monoplane was an experimental aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1912 to explore the aerodynamic concepts of Romanian inventor Henri Coandă. Designed by chief designer Sir George Conrad Westervelt and tested at Filton, the single‑seat, high‑wing monoplane featured a wooden frame, fabric covering and a 70 hp Renault V‑8 engine driving a two‑bladed propeller. Its most distinctive attribute was the use of Coandă’s “reattaching jet” principle: the wing incorporated a curved leading edge and an integrated venturi that forced airflow to adhere to the surface, promising greater lift and reduced drag. Although the aircraft never entered production, the flight trials provided valuable data on lift‑enhancement devices and demonstrated the feasibility of using pressure differentials to control airflow. The Coanda monoplane therefore occupies a pivotal place in early aerodynamic research, influencing later developments such as blown‑wing and boundary‑layer control techniques employed on modern high‑performance aircraft. It also marked Bristol’s first foray into experimental designs that would later underpin the company’s celebrated series of war‑time fighters and civil transports. Its research paved the way for later blown‑flap and Coandă‑effect technologies used on modern transport and military jets.