
The Bristol Aeroplane Company Tourer series of civil utility aircraft were developments of the Bristol F.2b Fighter for civilian use following the end of the First World War.
A standard but unarmed Bristol F2b Fighter (H1460) was ordered for communications duties and was fitted with a hinged cover over the rear passenger seat. This became known as the Bristol Type 27 Coupé.
The next development was the Bristol Type 29 Tourer – an unarmed Bristol Fighter with a Siddeley Puma engine. It was initially used as a company communications aircraft whilst a second machine was sold to a private owner in the United States.
The type was subsequently produced in two and three seat configurations. In the three-seat variants, the passengers sat side-by-side in either open or enclosed (coupé) cockpits. A two-seat variant was also produced with either an open or enclosed passenger cockpit as well as a three-seat seaplane variant.
When Bristol type numbers were allocated, the following type numbers were retrospectively allocated to the Bristol Tourer series:
- Bristol 27 Coupé: conversion of Bristol Fighter H1460
- Bristol 28 Tourer: three-seat with coupé passenger cockpit
- Bristol 29 Tourer: two seat open passenger cockpit
- Bristol 47 Tourer three-seat open passenger cockpit
- Bristol 48 Tourer Seaplane: three-seat open passenger cockpit
In addition, there were further developments for Greece (Bristol Type 81) and Bulgaria (Bristol Type 88).
In Britain, the first Bristol Type 47 (G-EART) was operated from Croydon Airport on charter work by S Instone & Co Ltd and was first registered in April 1920.

Four Bristol Type 47s were sold in North America, with one of these operating on skis with the Newfoundland Air Survey Company at Stag Bay, Labrador.
Three additional Type 47 Tourers were sold in Spain (registered M-AAAF, M-AFFF and M-AEAA / G-EAWR).

Specification
Bristol Type 47 Tourer | |
Powerplant | 230 hp Siddeley Puma |
Span | 39 ft 5 in |
Maximum Weight | 3,000 lb |
Capacity | Three seat: Pilot plus two passengers sat side-by-side in open rear cockpit |
Maximum Speed | 117 mph |
Number built
Eight aircraft: four exported to USA; three exported to Spain.
Survivors
None