Picture No 0243

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The new Bristol machine was an unashamed copy of the Henri-Farman lll, but rather better built. Following trials with alternative power plants, the 50 hp Gnome rotary engine was adopted and the aircraft flew successfully from Larkhill in July 1910.
The first order from overseas was placed by the Russian Government for eight Boxkites and they were delivered to St Petersburg in April 1911. These aircraft,military versions, had extended upper wings, three rudders, enlarged fuel tanks and more powerful 70 hp Gnome rotary engines.
The Boxkite was issued to the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in March 1911 and to the Larkhill based Army Air Battalion the following April. Some seventy-six Boxkites were built, which was a large number for the period. However, they proved cumbersome to fly and, by 1915, the majority had ceased to operate.
This aeroplane G-ASPP is a reproduction built by F. G. Miles Engineering Ltd in the 1960s for the film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. As no original Boxkite exists, the Bristol Aeroplane Company acquired it and placed it in the care of the Collection for preservation. In 1989 the aircraft was modified to improve a number of handling characteristics and is now powered by a Rolls-Royce Continental four cylinder engine of 100 hp.
Span 34 ft. 6 in. (Military version 46 ft. 6 in.) Overall length 38 ft. 6 in.
Engine(s) Original: 50hp Gnome rotary (Military version 70 hp Gnome)
Reproduction: Rolls-Royce Continental 100 hp
Weight Empty 900 lbs
Weight loaded 1,150 lbs
Maximum speed at 1,000 feet 50 mph (approx)
disabled