Aviation Archive: Aviation Heritage

Frank Barnwell had joined the company, see the sparate story for his life, and had worked with Harry Busteed on one of his seaplanes. But once released from this project he sketched out the brilliant baby biplane. This was to be the first Scout, and when, in later years, Barnwell was tasked with giving the factory aircraft type numbers, he began with this one omitting any that had gone before. The Scout proved a success and for the first two years of of WW1 became the factory at Brislington, Bristol, main output.

The 'Baby Biplane' was economical because of its simplicity of design. The original prototype weighed in at only 950 lbs complete with pilot and three hours fuel.

The first production Scout C went to the Admiralty on 16th February 1915. Two Scout B's had earned the nickname Bristol Bullet following their arrival in France during 1914 for appraisal. Most Naval Scouts were unarmed but carried cannisters of Ranken Darts designed to set fire to Zeppelin airships.

The Scout, because of its rapid climb was especially good at combating the menace of the Zeppelin, its short range was helped by converting Isle of Man steamers and one HMS Vindex was equipped with a flight deck and on 3rd November 1915 Flt Lt H F Towler took off in a Scout C.

In all 374 Scouts A D were produced which as this had been a stop gap venture was a commercial success.

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