Date:	Wednesday 21 March 1928
Time:	day
Type:	Bristol Type 91 Brownie II
Owner/operator:	Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd
Registration:	G-EBJK
MSN:	6526
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Farnborough Airfield, Farnborough, Hampshire -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Test
Departure airport:	Farnborough Airfield, Farnborough, Hampshire
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
The Bristol Type 91 Brownie was a light sports aircraft produced in the United Kingdom by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1924. Bristol had not built an aircraft to compete in the 1923 Lympne light aircraft trials, which had been for aircraft with engines of 750 cc or less, making use of Bristol's Cherub engine impossible. The rules were changed for the 1924 trials, permitting engines of up to 1,100 cc to be used, and accordingly Frank Barnwell started design work on a competitor early in 1924. He produced studies for alternative wood and metal aircraft, and after consideration of these the Board of Bristol Aircraft authorised the production of two aircraft on 4 February, adding a third on 5 May. All three aircraft had a similar fuselage, made of wire-braced high-tensile steel tubing, but for experimental purposes three different wing designs were produced: a 34 ft 7in (10.54m) span wooden wing and two different metal wings, one of 36 ft 7 in (11.15 m) span of all-steel construction, the other, intended for high-speed use, of 30 ft 7 in (9.32 m) span with combined steel and duralumin construction. To satisfy the rules of the competition the wings had to be readily detachable and the aircraft fitted with dual controls.

The three aircraft were registered G-EBJK, G-EBJL and G-EBJM on 14 July 1924, to the Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd., and immediately named "Jack", "Jill" and "Jim" respectively. G-EBJK, fitted with the wooden wings, was the first flown, on 6 August 1924 piloted by Cyril Uwins. It performed and handled so well that a second flight was immediately made by Frank Barnwell, followed by a third by Uwins and Barnwell together.

G-EBJL, which had the large metal wings fitted, first flew on 22 September and G-EBJM, completed as a single-seater with a long-range tank and the smaller metal wings, followed on 4 September 1924

All three took part in the trials, which took place between 27 September and 4 October 1924. Uwins, flying G-EBJK, winning second prize in the main trials. G-EBJL, to be flown by T.W. Campbell, was withdrawn because of aileron flutter, and Campbell in G-EBJM won third place in the Grosvenor Cup race, averaging over 70 mph.

After the Lympne trials G-EBJK and G-EBJL were delivered to Martlesham Heath for evaluation as a primary trainer, but did not impress the Air Ministry enough for any development to be funded by them.

G-EBJK was returned to Filton for modifications in December 1925. It was fitted with the newly developed 36 hp Cherub III mounted slightly lower in the fuselage, and the top longerons were curved down more to improve the view from the rear cockpit. The fuel tank was enlarged and it was fitted with new metal wings giving it a span of 37 ft 7 in (11.45 m). This was designated Type 91A.

After further trials at Martlesham it was again returned to Filton, where the engine mounting was further lowered and a Fairey-Reed duralmin propeller fitted. Additionally, a curved decking was added to the rear fuselage, and it was fitted with an enlarged horn-balanced rudder and a new undercarriage using rubber shock absorbers. This was designated Type 91B, or Brownie II. In this form the aircraft took place in the 1926 Lympne trials, where Uwins won the third place prize of £500

G-EBJK was written off (damaged beyond repair) on 21.3.1928 when it hit a tree after take-off, Farnborough Airfield, Farnborough, Hampshire. Pilot - Captain Frank Sowter Barnwell - was unhurt. There was a brief report in a contemporary local newspaper ("Gloucester Citizen" - Thursday 22 March 1928):

"AEROPLANE CRASH.
An aeroplane in which Captain F. S. Barnwell was flying to Bristol, crashed Farnborough Aerodrome on Wednesday. One of the wings struck a tree after Captain Barnwell had taken off from the aerodrome. Captain Barnwell was unhurt, but the machine was badly damaged."

Registration G-EBJK cancelled by the Air Ministry on 7.1.1929 due to "destruction or permanent withdrawl from use of aircraft"

1. Gloucester Citizen - Thursday 22 March 1928
2. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Accmisc.htm
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Brownie
4. https://www.baesystems.com/en/heritage/bristol-91-brownie
5. http://www.afleetingpeace.org/index.php/15-aeroplanes/82-register-gb-g-eb
6. http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=16012.0
7. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_G-E3.html
8. https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=6308
9. http://ata.afleetingpeace.org/index.php/gallery/g-e-aeroplanes/g-ebjk-bristol-brownie-0016-0046-3888

Bristol Brownie, model 91A G-EBJK, with Bristol Cherub III engine, lower fuselage line, steel framed wings, larger fuel tank and revised undercarriage. Late 1925

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
11-Feb-2019 20:00	Dr. John Smith	Added
17-Mar-2020 23:48	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Source, Narrative]