Bristol Boxkite (replica)

In 1910, the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company at Bristol imported a Voisin designed ‘Zodiac’ biplane from France, with the intention of building similar aircraft under licence in England. Although superbly finished the aeroplane was never flown successfully, and plans to build the design were abandoned in favour of a greatly improved version which had been developed by Henri Farman, an Englishman living in France.

The new Bristol machine was an unashamed copy of the Farman but rather better built, so that when the Farman Company’s solicitors threatened to sue, a defence claiming substantial improvements ensured that no court proceedings took place. Following trials with alternative power plants, the 50hp Gnôme rotary engine was adopted and the aircraft flew successfully from Larkhill in July 1910.

About this aircraft

This aeroplane is a reproduction built by F.G. Miles Engineering Ltd in the 1960s for the film ‘Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines’ (1965). As no original Boxkite exists, the Bristol Aeroplane Company acquired it and placed it in the care of the Collection for preservation.

It is powered by a Rolls-Royce Continental four cylinder engine of 100hp. The greater power of the modern engine is cancelled out by the smaller, higher revving modern propeller which, perhaps surprisingly, does not provide the same thrust as the seemingly lower powered 1910 design.

It flew again in 1992 and like the other Edwardian aircraft its flying activities are restricted to calm weather but flies whenever possible.

Specification