Bristol M.1C

It was a radical departure in 1916 to return to the monoplane formula, so much so that the Bristol M.1 was never given a fair chance on the Western front despite its speed, climb, and maneuverability.

The M.1A was the prototype, and four further examples were built as the M.1B for service trials with various engines. Thirty-five production M.1Cs were sent to the Middle East in 1917, but they never fully equipped any squadron.

The pre-war ban on monoplanes carried over into the rest of the war, and the M.1 was never given much of a chance despite glowing statistics. Perhaps its only true faults was restricted downward vision (hardly unique to monoplanes), and that was somewhat rectified by the addition of clear panels near the wing roots in the M.1C. Seventeen M.1s were sent to the Middle East in 1917, followed by eighteen more in 1918. Two were sent to training units in 1917 followed by 39 in 1918, six were sent to Chile, others to Macedonia.

We can only wonder how the war might have been different had the M.1 been produced and used in numbers starting in mid-1917.

Card Links

 * 111 Sqn
 * 150 Sqn - Kyte

Aircraft Chart

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways: Decapod, Kampfflieger