Filton and the Flying Machine

This volume is of a format now familiar to us, a study in well produced black and white photographs, accompanied with very informative captions. This volume also contains many previously unseen images.

Filton, to the uninitiated, is in Gloucestershire and was introduced to aviation in 1910 by Bristol businessman Sir George White, thus was formed the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company. The book touches only briefly on the Great War period, however the British and Colonial Aircraft Company produced what must be seen as the first truly Bristol design, the Boxkite. A large number of these so-called Boxkites were built, and are evidenced in the book's photographs. Another name synonymous with Filton is a young RFC pilot who returned to his drawing board on indefinite leave during 1915, his name was Frank Barnwell. Somewhere along the line the company became Bristol but that's evidently another story. Filton went on to produce aircraft after the war and saw active service as an airfield in WW2 primarily for 501 (Reserve) Squadron. Filton returned to 'weekend' use after 1946, finally disbanded in 1957.

The volume is of good value and recommended to fellow members.