Bristol F.3A

The Bristol F.3A was a British three-seat, single-engined biplane designed by the British & Colonial Aeroplane Co in 1916 as an anti-Zeppelin fighter. Two prototypes were ordered for the Royal Flying Corps but were not completed and the project was cancelled. In 1923 the type was retrospectively designated the Type 7.

Development
The company was invited to tender for the production of two prototype escort and anti-Zeppelin fighters using two 250 hp Rolls-Royce engines made available by the Admiralty. The design was based on the company's twin-engined local defence fighter the T.T.A. and was required to have a patrol endurance of seven hours. The company received an order on 16 May 1916 to build two prototypes for the Royal Flying Corps. The type used many TTA components including the wings, rear fuselage and tail unit. The two gunners were each accommodated in a nacelle on the top wing with a forward and rearward firing machine-gun.

With the availability of aircraft with synchronising guns the programme was cancelled and the two aircraft were not built.