Bristol M.R.1

The Bristol M.R.1 was an experimental biplane with an aluminium monocoque fuselage and metal wings, produced by Bristol during the First World War, with two built to government order. The letters stood for Metal Reconnaissance. Frank Barnwell submitted the design in 1916 for a metal two seat reconnaissance aircraft, and the fuselage was made of varnished duralumin sheet in four sections, the rear two being true monocoques, with the detailed design by W. T. Reid. The metal wings were difficult to make rigid and were outsourced to The Steel Wing Company, so the first aircraft flew with conventional wooden wings in mid 1917 and went to the Air Board in October 1917. The second, with metal wings and a Wolseley Viper engine, flew late in 1918.