52. BRISTOL M.1

The Bristol M.1 was designed by Frank Barnwell to produce a high performance single seat fighter aircraft that also gave its pilot the best possible view from his cockpit. Not a biplane pusher or a back-stagger biplane, but a modern-looking monoplane that first flew in 1916.Jack Bruce presents the full, fascinating history of this highly promising fighter with over 100 supporting photos from his and Stuart Leslie's personal collections. Pilot and test reports written at the time provide the background of a type that was not destined for the Western Front but rather the hot climes of the Middle East, whilst many became the 'personal property' of CFS instructors on the home front.The War Office was still wary of monoplanes in 1916 and the type never served in France where it could have done good work for the hard-pressed RFC units .This 36 page monograph contains 1:48 and 1:72 scale drawings,detailed colour notes and six colour profiles on the rear cover, whilst Brian Knight's superb painting of C5014 in all its exotic plumage graces the cover. This rare edition has at some point been carefully removed from a binder so residual stitching remains but it's complete and otherwise in very good condition.