Phil Wood Posted 28 June , 2016 Share Posted 28 June , 2016 Can anyone identify the aircraft in this picture? It's labelled as an RFC airplane at Hungerford, Berks. Looks a bit Bristol M1ish to me, but I'm no expert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flakdodger Posted 28 June , 2016 Share Posted 28 June , 2016 Looks rather like a Bristol-Coanda School Monoplane which dates from 1912 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knotty Posted 28 June , 2016 Share Posted 28 June , 2016 (edited) Could also be a Blackburn monoplane type D,also from 1912 More to the point Phil where in Hungerford was that taken, I have an idea but not 100% John Edited 28 June , 2016 by Knotty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wood Posted 28 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2016 18 minutes ago, Flakdodger said: Looks rather like a Bristol-Coanda School Monoplane which dates from 1912 I did look at that one - but the rigging thingummy sticking up in front of the cockpit is wrong - but is very like the M1 - but the nose does look more Coanda than M1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wood Posted 28 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2016 21 minutes ago, Knotty said: Could also be a Blackburn monoplane type D,also from 1912 More to the point Phil where in Hungerford was that taken, I have an idea but not 100% John I see what you mean, but the nose still looks a bit too pointy (now you know the level of my technical knowledge). As far as I can tell the photo was taken at the edge of Hungerford Common - I think that's the Down Gate pub toward the right of the picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knotty Posted 29 June , 2016 Share Posted 29 June , 2016 (edited) Hi Phil, We must await an aviation expert to clarify the aeroplane With regards to where it was taken, that's where I thought it was taken, it looks like the old Hungerford and Ramsbury workhouse in the background(left), does the cattle grid still exist by the pub? -sorry off topic just reminiscing. John See your avatar is St Nic's Edited 29 June , 2016 by Knotty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94avenge Posted 29 June , 2016 Share Posted 29 June , 2016 (edited) My guess is this is Bristol Prier 256 ! Obviously my photographer had better crowd clearing skills ! (actually the same photographer, A Parsons, took both images witness the sequence number marked lower photo) Regards, Ian Edited 29 June , 2016 by 94avenge Photographer details added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flakdodger Posted 29 June , 2016 Share Posted 29 June , 2016 Oh my word! According to airhistory.org's lists 256 is a Bristol Monoplane Splendid photo and follow up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94avenge Posted 29 June , 2016 Share Posted 29 June , 2016 Hello Flakdodger, Were you still ducking when you looked this up as I did look at this excellent source of info and it states "Bristol Prier 2 seat monoplane" in the first line of entry for 256. Bruce Robertson's equally splendid "Military Aircraft Serials" also quotes the same type, but then I am not a proper welder (old engineering joke for the less initiated) Regards, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flakdodger Posted 29 June , 2016 Share Posted 29 June , 2016 Thanks for explaining the old engineering joke. My copy of Bruce's book has long gone the way of all flesh. Thank heavens for the internet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wood Posted 29 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 29 June , 2016 Brilliant Ian - and an even more splendid photo! Thanks Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Wood Posted 29 June , 2016 Author Share Posted 29 June , 2016 13 hours ago, Knotty said: Hi Phil, We must await an aviation expert to clarify the aeroplane With regards to where it was taken, that's where I thought it was taken, it looks like the old Hungerford and Ramsbury workhouse in the background(left), does the cattle grid still exist by the pub? -sorry off topic just reminiscing. John See your avatar is St Nic's Hi John, The cattle grid is still there, as are the cattle. St Nics is the memorial I am concentrating on; about 250 on the men researched so far - many of the stories are online: http://westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk/nstories.php#stories. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nils d Posted 2 July , 2016 Share Posted 2 July , 2016 256 is kicking out a lot of oil.... [don't ever explain the welder joke!] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94avenge Posted 7 July , 2016 Share Posted 7 July , 2016 Could be the contents of the pilots underwear rather than oil ? (My lips are sealed ref the welder joke) Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete-c Posted 8 July , 2016 Share Posted 8 July , 2016 Some more info re. Bristol-Prier '256'. Delivered to Larkhill 12 Jan 1912 - tested by its designer Pierre Prier with Lt GJE Manisty as passenger. Taken on charge 17 Feb, crashed 26 April, returned to Bristol for repair. Back at Larkhill 20 June - crashed again. Rebuilt and handed over 25 July with lengthened fuselage and new tail unit. It flew with No.3 Squadron until grounded by the monoplane ban - was with the RFC in mid April 1913 and struck off on 5 August 1913. The staining on the fuselage nothing to do with bodily functions - just normal for a rotary engine machine. With that much castor oil being chucked out though, the pilot probably didn't have any constipation issues! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topgun1918 Posted 8 July , 2016 Share Posted 8 July , 2016 From "Britain's First Warplanes" - ...until grounded by the monoplane ban, was at the RAF in mid-April 1913... RAF in this context being Royal Aircraft Factory. Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete-c Posted 9 July , 2016 Share Posted 9 July , 2016 23 hours ago, topgun1918 said: ... RAF in this context being Royal Aircraft Factory. Graeme Mea culpa Graeme. As if JM Bruce would make such a typo. I am wearing my dunce's hat as I write this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topgun1918 Posted 9 July , 2016 Share Posted 9 July , 2016 pete-c Not to worry - been there, done that (far too often!) Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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