Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol F.2B Arab Fighter
The Bristol F.2B Fighter, often called the Bristol Fighter, was a two‑seat biplane built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company during the First World War. First flown in September 1916 and introduced to front‑line service in early 1917, the type quickly proved that a two‑seat aircraft could fight as aggressively as a single‑seat fighter. Powered by a 275 hp (205 kW) Rolls‑Royce Falcon I V‑12 engine, it achieved a top speed of about 123 mph (198 km/h) and a service ceiling of 20,000 ft. Its wooden frame and fabric covering housed a forward‑firing .303‑inch Vickers machine gun for the pilot and a flexible .303 Lewis gun for the observer, giving it both offensive and defensive firepower. The robust airframe could carry up to 200 lb of bombs for ground‑attack missions. Over 5,300 examples were built, serving with the Royal Flying Corps, later the Royal Air Force, and with several allied air services. The F.2B’s combination of speed, maneuverability, and versatility made it a benchmark for post‑war two‑seat fighters and influenced the design of later reconnaissance‑combat aircraft. Its long operational life, lasting into the early 1930s, cemented its reputation as one of the most successful British combat aircraft of the era.
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Classification
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Manufacturer
- Bristol Aeroplane Company
- Wikidata ID
- Q15129826