Bristol Type 110A

The Bristol Aeroplane Company Type 110 was initially designed as a three-passenger commercial cabin biplane using a five-cylinder Bristol Titan engine.

 

However, it soon transformed into the Bristol Type 110A, a larger, four-passenger development that could accept either the 220 hp Titan or the 315 hp Neptune engine to suit customer requirements. In the event, only the Bristol Type 110A was to be built and although two prototypes were laid down, only one (G-AAFG) was ever completed.

 

It was a flat sided, all metal / fabric covered fuselage with an unbraced horizontal tail. The passenger cabin featured 3 windows on each side, one of which was included in the starboard side door. The glazed cockpit was elevated, set ahead of the upper wing leading edge providing superior vision around the aircraft.

 

During its first flight on 25th October 1929, the prototype machine (G-AAFG) showed a promising performance with company test pilot Cyril Unwins at the controls. It was fitted with a Bristol Titan engine for the flight, despite having featured a Neptune engine when it appeared as a mock-up at the Olympia Show earlier that year.  At Olympia, it had impressed visitors with its 'well-appointed cabin' although disappointingly, the praise was not converted into orders.

 

The Bristol Type 110A was eventually flown with both engine types, but it suffered damage in February 1930 following a landing on rough ground, that resulted in undercarriage failure.

 

 

Ultimately, it was recognised that the production cost from any sales would result in a nett loss, and so the aircraft was financially unviable.

 

Furthermore, Bristol's manufacturing capacity was fully employed in the Bristol Bulldog production and consequently the Bristol Type 110A was abandoned.

 

The damaged aircraft (G-AAFG) was not repaired and subsequently scrapped for parts whilst the second prototype was never assembled.