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Bristol F.2B Derivatives

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For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Type Description and Production Data

Type 27 F.2B Coupé Types 28, 29, 47 &48 Tourer Type 76 Jupiter Fighter Type 81 Puma Trainer Type 86 Type 88 Bulgarian Tourer Type 89 Jupiter Trainer
Projected Variants
Production Summary
Type 27 F.2B Coupé
2 seat Coupé development of the Type 14, modified with a glazed cover to the rear cockpit, a rounded upper fuselage coaming aft of the cockpit, fairing down from the top of the cockpit cover to the base of the fin, replacing the flat upper decking of the F.2B. The cabin was entered from the top, the roof being hinged along the top port longeron. Communication with the pilot was via a speaking-tube. The cabin was fitted out with a writing table for the passenge, and small cupboards were provided both in the front and in the rear of the cabin, suitable for the stowage of light luggage . One 275 h.p. Rolls-Royce Falcon III powerplant.
Production Details
Serial Range C/n Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
1 aircraft converted on the production line by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, in early 1919. Purchased by the Air Board in May 1919.
H1460 5177 (1) Originally ordered as a F.2B against contract 35A/2100/C2393.
Total Production (1)
Tourer Variants
Type 28 Tourer
3 seat Coupé development of the Type 27 F.2B Coupé, the two passengers sitting side-by-side in the rear cockpit under a glazed and hinged cover. The rear cockpit was accessed by a ladder bolted to the port side of the fuselage and allowing access over the exhaust pipe, which extended beyond the rear cockpit. One 230 h.p. Siddeley Puma powerplant.
Type 29 Tourer
(Also referred to as the P.T.2S, signifying Puma Tourer 2-seat School) 2 seat open tourer development of the Type 14, featuring a raised and rounded coaming for the passenger cockpit. One 230 h.p. Siddeley Puma powerplant.
Type 29A
See Type 88 Bulgarian Tourer
Type 47 Tourer
3 seat open tourer development of the Type 29, the passengers sitting side-by-side in the rear cockpit. One 230 h.p. Siddeley Puma powerplant.
Type 48 Tourer
3 seat open seaplane tourer development of the Type 47. The floats were comparatively long at 19 ft. 6 ins., had a stepped "V" bottom, each being divided into six water-tight compartments and were fitted with water rudders. They were supported by two pairs of struts, so mounted that they are readily detachable. One 230 h.p. Siddeley Puma powerplant.

Type 28 Tourer Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
39 ft 5 in 26 ft 1 in 10 ft 407 sq ft 1900 lb 3000 lb 120 mph/ 104 kn 20000 ft
12.01 m 7.95 m 3.05 m 37.81 m2 862 kg 1361 kg 193 km/h 6096 m

Tourer Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Type Notes
28 aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset. Built between July 1919 and May 1921.
5867 G-EAIZ Type 29 Retained by Bristol as a demonstrator.
5868 G-EANR Type 29 To USA (See Note 2). To Mr. Joseph F. Thorne and used to ship bullion from his silver mine in Nicaragua.
5873 Type 48 See Note 3
5874 Type 48 See Note 3
5876 G-EART Type 47 To Instone Air Line.
5877 Type 47 To USA (See Note 2).
5878 Type 47 To USA (See Note 2).
5879 Type 47 To USA (See Note 2).
5880 Type 47 To USA (See Note 2).
5881 Type 29 To USA (See Note 2).
5891 Type 28 To USA (See Note 2).
5892 G-EAVU Type 29 Retained by Bristol as a demonstrator. See note 1.
6108 G-EAXK Type 28 To Australia as G-AUDF for Western Australian Airways.
6109 M-AAAF Type 28 To Sociedad Otie, Spain.
6110 M-AFFF Type 28 To Sociedad Otie, Spain.
6111 G-AUDG Type 28 To Western Australian Airways.
6112 G-EAWR Type 28 To Spain as M-AEAA for Sociedad del Monte Archanda.
6113 G-AUDX Type 28 Supplied as spare. Used to rebuild G-AUCA. To Western Australian Airways. Later VH-UDX.
6114 G-EAWQ Type 28 To Spain as M-AAEA for Alberto Bayo.
6115 G-AUDH Type 28 To Western Australian Airways. Rebuilt as G-AUDZ after crashing. Later VH-UDZ.
6116 G-AUDI Type 28 To Western Australian Airways.
6117 G-AUCA Type 28 To Controller of Civil Aviation, Australia. Crashed 16 March 1923 at Bourke NSW and rebuilt as G-AUDX.
6118 G-AUDJ Type 28 To Western Australian Airways.
6119 G-AUDK Type 28 To Western Australian Airways.
6120 G-EAXA Type 29 Retained by Bristol as a demonstrator. Converted to a Type 81 Puma Trainer
6121 M-AFFA Type 29 To Sociedad Otie, Spain.
6122 G-EAWB Type 29 To Alan S. Butler
6123 Type 29 To the Newfoundland Air Survey Company, Canada.
Total Production  28
Type 76 Jupiter Fighter Variants
Type 76 Jupiter Fighter
2 seat fighter-reconnaissance biplane development of the Type 14. Structurally identical to the F.2B except for some local strengthening and the fitting of an oleo undercarriage in place of the rubber chord type. One 425 h.p. Bristol Jupiter IV powerplant.
Type 76A Jupiter Fighter
Type 76 with high compression, bi-fuel Jupiter powerplant.
Type 76B Jupiter Fighter
Type 76 fitted with Frise ailerons.

Type 76 Jupiter Fighter Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
39 ft 3 in 25 ft 9 ft 6 in 405 sq ft 2190 lb 3080 lb 134 mph/ 116 kn 400 mi 22150 ft
11.96 m 7.62 m 2.9 m 37.63 m2 993 kg 1397 kg 216 km/h 644 km 6751 m

Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Type Notes
3 aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset. Built between July 1919 and May 1921.
6379 G-EBGF Type 76
6380 G-EBHG Type 76B To Swedish Army as Fv 4300 (later Fv 1300 in 1926 and Fv 3667 in 1932). To Hugo Frederikson in 1935 as SE-AEE.
6381 G-EBHH Type 76A Converted to Type 89 in 1925.
Total Production  3
Type 81 Puma Trainer Variants and Type 86
Type 81 Puma Trainer
(a.k.a Puma School) A dual control Advanced Trainer variant of the Type 29 Bristol Tourer aircraft, with Frise ailerons and oleo landing gear (except first aircraft). One 230 h.p. Siddeley Puma powerplant.
Type 81A Puma Trainer
Type 81 with a horn balanced rudder of larger area, and a revised fin. Developed for the Greek Navy, it was specified that they should be possible to convert them to fighters if required, and consequently they retained the flat top decking of the F.2B, with a rudimentary windscreen for the pupil, rather than the raised and rounded coaming of the Type 81. One 230 h.p. Siddeley Puma powerplant.
Type 86
Type 81A converted to take the 275 h.p. Rolls-Royce Falcon III powerplant.

Type 81A Puma Trainer Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Endurance Service Ceiling
39 ft 5 in 26 ft 10 ft 407 sq ft 1750 lb 2800 lb 120 mph/ 104 kn 5 hr
12.01 m 7.92 m 3.05 m 37.81 m2 794 kg 1270 kg 193 km/h

Production Details Type 81 Puma Trainer
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
5 aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset. Built in March 1923.
6120 G-EAXA Converted from Types 29. To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6239 G-EBFR To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6240 G-EBFS To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6241 G-EBFT To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6242 G-EBFU To Filton Reserve Flying School.
Total Production (New Built)  4
Total Production (Conversions)  (1)
Production Details Type 81A
Serial Range C/n Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
6 aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the Hellenic Naval Air Service (Ναυτική Αεροπορική Υπηρεσία). Delivered in mid 1925 (without engines).
NAY128 - NAY132, NAY136 6712-6717 6 Later re-serialed M-31 to M-36.
Total Production 6
Production Details Type 86
Serial Range C/n Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
At least 5 aircraft converted by the Hellenic Naval Air Service (Ναυτική Αεροπορική Υπηρεσία) from Type 81A to Type 86 standard in 1931. See Note 6.
M51 - M55 6712-6717 (5)
Total Production (5)
Type 88 Bulgarian Tourer Variants
Type 88 Bulgarian Tourer
Type 29 to meet local Bulgarian requirements for a postal services aircraft. One 180 h.p. Wolseley Viper powerplant. Also referred to as the Type 29A.
Type 88A Bulgarian Tourer
Type 88 with Frise ailerons, oleo landing gear and the revised fin and rudder of the Type 81A, plus a revised radiator.

Type 88 Bulgarian Tourer Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Endurance Service Ceiling
39 ft 5 in 24 ft 11 in 10 ft 407 sq ft 1650 lb 2700 lb 120 mph/ 104 kn 5-1/2 hr
12.01 m 7.59 m 3.05 m 37.81 m2 748 kg 1225 kg 193 km/h

Type 88 Bulgarian Tourer Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
2 aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the Bulgarian Government. Delivered in April 1924.
6383 B-BECA
6384 B-BEHA
Total Production  2
Type 88A Bulgarian Tourer Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
3 aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset, for the Bulgarian Government. Delivered in Apri 1926.
6937 B-BEBA
6938 B-BETO
6939 B-BEKA
Total Production  3
Type 89 Jupiter Trainer Variants
Type 89 Jupiter Trainer
Two seat advanced trainer derivative of the Type 76, fitted with Frise ailerons and the larger fin and rudder of the Type 81A. One de-rated 320 h.p. Bristol Jupiter IV powerplant.
Type 89A Jupiter Trainer
Type 89 with plywood covered fuselage. One de-rated 320 h.p. Bristol Jupiter VI powerplant.

Type 89 Jupiter Trainer Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
39 ft 3 in 25 ft 9 ft 6 in 405 sq ft 2326 lb 3250 lb 110 mph/ 96 kn 340 mi
11.96 m 7.62 m 2.9 m 37.63 m2 1055 kg 1474 kg 177 km/h 547 km

Type 89 Jupiter Trainer Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
10 aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset. Built between April 1924 and June 1926.
6381 G-EBHH Converted from Type 76A. To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6382 G-EBIH To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6522 G-EBJA To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6523 G-EBJB To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6524 G-EBJC To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6525 none To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6918 G-EBML To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6919 G-EBMN To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6963 G-EBNZ To Beardmore Reserve Flying School, Renfrew.
6964 G-EBOA To Beardmore Reserve Flying School, Renfrew.
Total Production (New Built)  9
Total Production (Conversions)  (1)
Type 89A Jupiter Trainer Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
15 aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, Filton, Bristol, Somerset. Built between October 1926 and September 1931.
6965 G-EBOC To Filton Reserve Flying School.
6966 G-EBOD To Beardmore Reserve Flying School, Renfrew.
6967 G-EBQS To Beardmore Reserve Flying School, Renfrew.
7124 G-EBQT To Filton Reserve Flying School.
7156 G-EBSB To Beardmore Reserve Flying School, Renfrew.
7157 G-EBSH To Filton Reserve Flying School.
7221 (none) Spare airframe. See note 5.
7234 G-EBVR To Beardmore Reserve Flying School, Renfrew.
7265 G-EBYL To Filton Reserve Flying School.
7350 G-AAGF To Filton Reserve Flying School.
7351 G-AALO To Filton Reserve Flying School.
7352 G-AAWJ To Filton Reserve Flying School.
7711 G-ABPL To Filton Reserve Flying School.
7712 G-ABPM To Filton Reserve Flying School.
R58 G-EBWN Built by Beardmore Reserve School at Renfrew from spares and salvaged parts
Total Production  15

Projected Variants

  • Type 41
  • 2 seat open seaplane tourer development of the Type 14. One 230 h.p. Siddeley Puma powerplant.
  • Type 86A
  • 3 seat open tourer development of the Type 14. One 275 h.p. Rolls-Royce Falcon III powerplant.

Production Summary

All Aircraft By Type
Type Built New Conv Canc'd Total
Type 27 F2B Coupe (1) 1
Type 28 Tourer 13 13
Type 29 Tourer 8 8
Type 47 Tourer 5 5
Type 48 Tourer 2 2
Type 76 Jupiter Fighter 1 1
Type 76A Jupiter Fighter 1 1
Type 76B Jupiter Fighter 1 1
Type 81 Puma Trainer 4 (1) 5
Type 81A 6 6
Type 86 (5) 5
Type 88 Bulgarian Tourer 2 2
Type 88A Bulgarian Tourer 3 3
Type 89 Jupiter Trainer 9 (1) 10
Type 89A Jupiter Trainer 15 15
70 (8)

Notes

  1. One Bristol 29 Tourer was registered to Sociedad del Monte Archanda as M-AAFA. It is possible that this was ex- G-EAVU.
  2. One Tourer became NC826Y. One aircraft, owned by a Mr. Menzel of California, won the Del Monte Trophy at the the San Francisco Aeronautical Show in May 1920.
  3. They had been built against orders promised by the Company’s New York agents, although in the event they were cancelled following problems with import duties. However, there were hopes of ultimate sales against an order from Siberia, which resulted in both aircraft being completed as planned. Unfortunately, the Siberian order was also cancelled before the aircraft flew although there still remained the prospect of sales to Canada. In the event, this order did not materialise either and so both aircraft were ultimately scrapped, unsold and unregistered.
  4. It is not entirely clear how many aircraft were converted to Type 86 standard. G.W. Cannell, Blackburn Director Manager at the KEA plant, in the section “Reconditioning” of his six-page report of 2 February 1931, mentions 9 Bristol aircraft, which obviously must come from the initial 6 F.2B and later 6 Type 81A. Whether all 9 were converted to Type 86, and how many were originally F.2B or Type 81A, is unclear. The use of serials M51 through M55 is confirmed via photographs and documents. (Via [6])
  5. This is indicated in the Bristol ledger [7] as a "fuselage for Messrs Beardmore", so was presumably required by the Beardmore Reserve Flying School. G-EBOD was indicated [8] as written off (destroyed) 25 May1927 when stalled, crashed, and caught fire on impact into an embankment, near Pollokshields East Railway Station, Albert Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow. Registration G-EBOD was not cancelled until 14 January 1930, so possibly an attempt was made to repair the machine.

Production References

  1. Bristol Aircraft Since 1910, C.H. Barnes (Putnam, 1964, 1970 and 1988)
  2. Bristol F.2B Fighter - King of Two-Seaters, Chaz Bowyer (Ian Allen, 1985)
  3. Bristol Fighter, Ray Sturtivant, Gordon Page, James J Halley and Philip Jarrett (Air Britain Publishing, 2020)
  4. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/home.html
  5. British Civil Aircraft Registers 1919-1928, Peter W. Moss (Air Britain Publications, 1969)
  6. Greek Bristol F.2B and Type 81A details, via e-mail, from Ioannis Mylonas, 8 June 2023.
  7. Bristol Air Ministry Contracts Ledger via The Bristol Aero Collection Trust Library
  8. https://aviation-safety.net

Page Revision History

Revised at Version 2.0.0
  • Revised note 2, added notes 3, 4 and 5.
  • Greek details improved.