David Bremner flying his beautiful Bristol Scout at Old Warden on Sunday 5th February 2023, taking advantage of some gloriously sunny and still late winter weather during the Shuttleworth Engineering Open Day 2023.
This Bristol Scout Type C is a faithfully accurate full size replica, incorporating a number of original parts from the original aircraft - the preserved joystick, rudder bar and still-functional Bosch starting magneto - which was flown by Flight Sub Lieutenant F.D.H. Bremner with No.2 Wing of the Royal Naval Air Service in the eastern mediterranean during World War One. The aircraft is currently the only Bristol Scout flying and is powered by an original 90 hp Le Rhone 9J. The aircraft is on the British civil aircraft register as G-FDHB.
David and Richard Bremner, grandchildren of the original pilot of No. 1264, wanted to create an airworthy tribute to their grandfather, RNAS pilot Francis Donald Holden Bremner, using the artifacts of their grandfather's original Bristol Scout. Research started in 2002, with construction of the airframe beginning in 2008. The first flight of the reproduction was on
9th July 2015, with a visit to the area around Gallipoli where their grandfather's aircraft was based from December 1915 to August 1916, so that they could fly the reproduction from where the original Scout C flew against the Central Powers.
Bristol Scout No. 1264 flew from the Greek Island of Thassos during 1915-1916, carrying out routine patrols, bombing raids and photographic reconnaissance missions along the Greek/Bulgarian border.
The Roundel colours on the upper wings and fuselage are the second or 'modified' pattern of Royal Naval Air Service roundel that was introduced in 1915 and not replaced by the standard Blue/White/Red roundel on all British RNAS and RFC aircraft until later in 1916.
The Bristol Scout Type C was the first wheeled British aircraft to fly from the deck of a Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier at sea and the first aircraft to take off from an Aircraft Carrier during wartime, when one flew from HMS Vindex on 3rd November 1915. HMS Vindex had previously been converted for the purpose from the fast passenger ship SS Viking.
The Bristol Scout was originally referred to as the ‘Baby’ and was a single seat rotary engine biplane designed by Bristol Head Designer Frank Barnwell and Chief Test Pilot Harry Busteed.
It was first flown on 23rd February 1914, where it demonstrated good handling and a top speed of 95 mph with the power of an 80 hp Gnome engine.
This aircraft was then fitted with an 80 hp Le Rhône engine and raced by Lord Carbery in June and July 1914. It came to grief after running out of fuel whilst crossing the channel during the return flight from Paris on 7th July 1914. This one-off aircraft was later designated the Scout A.
Two Scout B variants were built, having underwing hoops to protect the wingtips and a new externally stiffened engine cowling. The main production types were the Scout C (161 built) and the Scout D (210 built) which were operated by both the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).
During the First World War, Captain Lanoe Hawker was awarded the Victoria Cross for shooting down two enemy aircraft on 25th July 1915, with a single shot fired from the Martini carbine mounted on his Bristol Scout C.
The Scout D featured various improvements, including adaptation to fit several engine types, relocation of the oil tank, enlarging of the rudder and the use of shorter ailerons.
Engines fitted included the 80 hp Gnome, Le Rhône and Clerget, the 100 hp Monosoupape-Gnome, and the 110 hp Clerget or Le Rhône rotaries.
The Scout D was delivered to RNAS and RFC service in February 1916 and a number of Scout D aircraft were fitted with a single-synchronised Vickers gun, firing through the propeller arc.
Earlier machines were limited by not having interrupter gear fitted, although a range of gun types were fitted to fire outside the propeller arc.
The Bristol SSA was an 80 hp Clerget-powered single seat biplane designed by Henri Coanda to a French requirement, SSA standing for single seat, armoured. This aircraft first flew on 8th May 1914 and was delivered in July 1914.
The Bristol Type 8 S.2A was an adaptation of the Scout D seating two occupants side-by-side; two were delivered to the Central Flying School in mid-1916.
Video and Audio content is
Copyright © High Flight
This video and audio material may not be reproduced in any form (except as the videos RU-vid embedded video option on any other website), without written permission.
5 фев 2023
