The Bristol Scout was a simple, single seat,
rotary-engined biplane originally intended as a civilian racing
aircraft. Like other similar fast, light aircraft of the period
- it was acquired by the RNAS and the RFC as a "scout", or fast
reconnaissance type. In the event it was one of the first
single-seaters to be used as fighter aircraft, although it was
not possible to fit it with an effective armament until the
first British synchronisation gears became available, by which
time it was outmoded by later types. Single seat fighters
continued to be called "scouts" in British usage into the early
1920s.
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