Bristol S.S.A.

Bristol S.S.A.

Company type	Aircraft
Industry	Aviation
Founded	1914
Headquarters	Filton , United Kingdom
Products	Single-seat armoured scout aircraft

The Bristol S.S.A., standing for Single-Seat Armoured, was a protected scout aircraft constructed by Bristol in 1914 to meet a French government request.

Design and development

Commissioned by the French authorities, Henri Coanda created a single-seat armoured biplane. The forward fuselage was crafted as a monocoque shell from sheet steel, commonly referred to as 'The Bath', manufactured at the Filton facility. This armoured casing enclosed the engine, fuel and oil tanks, as well as the cockpit; notably, the pilot’s seat was integrated into the shaped rear bulkhead.

Powered by an 80 horsepower (60 kW) Clerget 7Z rotary engine, it was fully enclosed within a sheet steel cowling. The propeller featured two blades and was equipped with a large sheet steel spinner perforated to permit cooling airflow to the engine. Inside, a steel cone prevented bullets from entering through these ventilation holes.

The biplane's staggered main wings were positioned as far forward as feasible to ensure the centre of pressure remained properly aligned with the aircraft’s centre of gravity. The lower wings were affixed to a supporting framework that left a gap between the wing root and fuselage.

Its landing gear comprised two wheels mounted on struts accompanied by extended rearward skids, which eliminated the need for a conventional tail-skid. A distinctive feature requested by the French was that the main wheels could caster freely, facilitating landings in crosswind conditions.

Extending from the rear of the armoured compartment was a slim tail section terminating in a large balanced rudder along with tailplane and elevator control surfaces.

Operational history

The only prototype, assigned serial number 'No.219', conducted its maiden flight at Larkhill on 8 May 1914. Initially, it featured a temporary aluminium spinner to address vibration issues encountered with the steel version. The S.S.A. also took to the skies at Farnborough, where it sustained damage following a hard landing. After undergoing repairs, the aircraft was flown once more on 25 June 1914 at Filton by pilot Harry Busteed; however, it suffered a broken undercarriage bracing wire upon touchdown. Despite this damage and without further repairs, the S.S.A. was handed over to the French client at the La Brayelle facility in Douai, operated by Breguet, for refurbishment on 3 July 1914. When the German offensive under the Schlieffen Plan prompted evacuation of the Douai factory to Villacoublay at the onset of the First World War, the S.S.A. remained behind and was not transported. Subsequently, no additional information regarding the S.S.A. has been documented.