Brisfit trio – get it together.

Dave, thanks for the update on the Moth story..fascinating stuff. I should have said that the last Brisfits in service in the UK were the ones in UAS service. You’re right, that’s University Air Squadron.

😀 @ DB.

“How many thousands in an Inch, Chiefy?”

“Dunno son, millions probably.” 😉

Precision. It’s a wonderful thing.

Calculated guess says that the Brisfit above is G-AFHJ (ex. F4587) which was destroyed during WW2.

Best wishes
Steve P

Edit: sorry Mark, missed your post above.

I think the commentator at OW said the last ones in service flew with a UAS Squadron in the 1930s but my Ozzie mate was nattering at the time and I didn’t get the full story (Sorry Feather No 3). Oh and BTW Dave you can’t just drop in the comment about the armed DH60 without a bit more comment. What was the story?

I assume by UAS you mean the university squadrons? They must have been the last RAF ones. According to the sources I have the RNZAF ones were the last in service anywhere in the world.

As for the Moth, it was kitted up with a gun and carried bombs, plus floats, and in 1930 it embarked onboard a ship for Samoa where there was a Mau uprising. It became the first New Zealand-owned military aircraft to go into combat, when a boat was spotted and was suspected of being Mau separatists. Pilot Sidney Wallingford persued it, and dropped bombs to try to destroy the boat. Luckily for him they all missed, as it turned out the boat was actually crewed by a local missionary and not terrorists! But it’s credited as NZ’s first aerial combat mission (if you forget the hundreds of New Zealanders who flew with the RFC, RAAF, RNAS, RIAF and other services in WWI)

I think the commentator at OW said the last ones in service flew with a UAS Squadron in the 1930s but my Ozzie mate was nattering at the time and I didn’t get the full story (Sorry Feather No 3). Oh and BTW Dave you can’t just drop in the comment about the armed DH60 without a bit more comment. What was the story?

Assuming you aren’t referring to Hurricane pilot 111 Sqn Ld ‘Downwind’ Gillan who achieved 400 and something MPH from Turnhouse Edinburgh to Northolt London, I had a look at ‘Spitfire’ 1935 – 1939 and ‘Hurricane’ ditto on www.britishpathe.com, but not anything likely. Some other good films though. e.g. Maj de Seversky flying an early Spitfire at Southampton? Obviously thought it a bit of a lightweight… 😀

Ah! Found the photo – Central Press

The caption stick on tab is not complete but what I can read and make out is the following:-

***00 MILE IN FIVE HOURS 20.5.39

***SQUADRON LEADER GEORGE STAINFORTH to-day flew nearly
***e the length of Britain in the fastest fighting plane
***he the world a VICKER’S SPITFIRE in a remarkable time
***ive hours O.P.S. A STRIKING CONTRAST OF MACHINES
***E STAINFORTH TOOK OFF, (left a Bristol fighter of
***ime vintage, with the Vicker SPITFIRE ABOUT TO TAKE
***

Mark

Daz,
The fin/rudder shape was a feature of a couple of the inter-war versions of the Brisfit, specifically the dual-control Mk.III’s and the standard Mk.IV’s, and some older models were retrofitted. There were also some civilian examples with different types of engine which also had revised fin/rudder profiles.
Going by the profile of the aft-fuselage decking, the example in the picture looks most like a de-mobbed Mk.III Dual.

Cheers, Ant. I thought it might have been some sort of mod to combat crosswinds or something (having read recently that the Brisfit isn’t “keen” on them), but then that wouldn’t have mattered at the time, would it? :rolleyes:

Daz,
The fin/rudder shape was a feature of a couple of the inter-war versions of the Brisfit, specifically the dual-control Mk.III’s and the standard Mk.IV’s, and some older models were retrofitted. There were also some civilian examples with different types of engine which also had revised fin/rudder profiles.
Going by the profile of the aft-fuselage decking, the example in the picture looks most like a de-mobbed Mk.III Dual.

🙂 Untouched press original.

What’s with the fin/rudder shape on the Brisfit? :confused:

Bristol Fighters lasted in NZPAF service and then RNZAF service till 1936, at which point the survivors became instructional airframes. I don’t know if the IA’s lasted into WWII but doubt it.

They were the only armed aircraft in New Zealand during the 1920’s, except for a DH60 Moth. The Brisfits never operated in the role as fighters here though, just as advanced trainers till they were replaced in 1935 by Vildebeests. They then became aerial survey aircraft till retirement.

As seven were in service, I’d wager three or more formated during the pilot refresher courses of the 1920’s and 1930’s here.

Assuming you aren’t referring to Hurricane pilot 111 Sqn Ld ‘Downwind’ Gillan who achieved 400 and something MPH from Turnhouse Edinburgh to Northolt London, I had a look at ‘Spitfire’ 1935 – 1939 and ‘Hurricane’ ditto on www.britishpathe.com, but not anything likely. Some other good films though. e.g. Maj de Seversky flying an early Spitfire at Southampton? Obviously thought it a bit of a lightweight… 😀

Good man, what an archive.

Civil registered… Can’t see what though.

Not Battle of Britain, that pic, surely? Far me it from me, as a mere junior acolyle at the temple of Spitfire trivia, but looks a bit earlier to me – pole mast, unarmoured windscreen(?) no fin flash, etc…

What’s the story?

JDK

No not BoB, of course not. 🙂

I temporarily can’t locate the original and the appended caption for the press release. The Spitfire is K9895 and the Brisfit is G-AFHJ best guess.

From memory I think it was that speed stunt to impress the Germans in 1938/9. Edinborough to London or similar in under an hour without mentioning the 200 knot tail wind.

You are good on that Pathe site. Can you locate it? My anti-virus can’t cope with it.

Mark

Good man, what an archive.

Civil registered… Can’t see what though.

Not Battle of Britain, that pic, surely? Far me it from me, as a mere junior acolyle at the temple of Spitfire trivia, but looks a bit earlier to me – pole mast, unarmoured windscreen(?) no fin flash, etc…

What’s the story?

Thought that was Avro 504Ns?

🙂 Untouched press original.

Battle of Britain.

Thought that was Avro 504Ns?

First stop for a quick answer, Wikipedia:

Any advances? Last UK use?

Battle of Britain.

First stop for a quick answer, Wikipedia:

After the war, F.2Bs continued to operate in army cooperation and light bombing roles throughout the British Empire, in particular the Middle East, India and China. The F.2B also served with the RNZAF and RAAF as well as with the air forces of Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Greece, Mexico Norway, Peru, Spain and Sweden. It was not until 1932 that the F.2B was finally withdrawn from RAF service; its last unit being No. 20 Squadron RAF stationed in India. The type lasted a further three years in New Zealand.

Any advances? Last UK use?

AJ – Don’t cut yourself with your razor wit. 😉

Not counting Legends last weekend.

OK, OK, fair enough. Apart, that is from last weekend. What is this, a Logic Professor’s conference? 😀

1. Proberably aout 1920.
2. Who knows, before then proberably.
3. Before legends, proberably the end of ww1.

I think you are about a decade early with 1), and 2 & 3 isn’t really a lot of help but thanks. Flying Legends, last weekend, I understand. Got it now. Great. Now, bearing the mind the thrust of the question…

Any more guesses involving some data input this time?

1) I wonder when the last time there were three Bristol Fighters airborne togeher like that, ever, anywhere?

And for extra points for those clever folks among us:

2) When the last time three in the PC-10 colours?

3) And three flew together in the UK?

(No, I have no idea…)

Not counting Legends last weekend.

1. Proberably aout 1920.
2. Who knows, before then proberably.
3. Before legends, proberably the end of ww1.

Could we not expect these Brisfits to be seen together again?

No, not 3 origional ww1 Bristol Fighters. These are the only 3 origional flying in the world. One of them is going to New Zealand with Peter Jackson.