British aircraft exports to Hungary in the 1920s (Bristol F.2B and Type 83)

[Dénes Bernád]

Excerpt from a book manuscript currently under work:
"Hungary obtained the first training aircraft from its former enemy from the First World War – Great Britain. Six underpowered Bristol F.2B biplane trainers were smuggled into Hungary in November 1922, without any paperwork. The supervising Commission eventually found out about the plot, but the aircraft could finally stay in Hungary. The next aircraft purchase from Great Britain was made officially. The five Bristol Type 83 Primary Trainer (Lucifer) biplanes, also powered by low output engine, arrived in March 1926."

Can anyone confirm this information and eventually add more details?

Thanks in advance,

[Bruce Dennis]

"The supervising Commission eventually found out about the plot, .."

Hello Denes'
Do you know when 'the plot' was discovered?

Regards,
Bruce

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Here is what the late Chaz Bowyer had to say about the Bulgarian Bristol Tourers:

The (Bristol) Tourers attracted sales from several other countries, including Bulgaria, Spain (and) Australia. Bulgaria ordered a total of five machines, fitted with 180hp Wolseley Viper powerplants in two versions, Types 88 and 88A, the latter version having enlarged rudders and night-flying equipment. The first two (Type 88), were delivered in April 1924 - Bristol seq. Nos. 6383 and 6384 which became registered as B-BECA and B-BEHA respectively - while the remaining three (Type 88A), were finally purchased in April 1926, these being seq. Nos. 6937 (B-BEBA*), 6938 (B-BETO) and 6939 (B-BEKA).

See:
Bristol F2B Fighter King of Two-Seaters.
Bowyer,Chaz.
Shepperton:Ian Allan,1985.
p.98.

* Quoted elsewhwere as - B-BEPA.

Col.

[Dénes Bernád]

Thank you, Col., for the info. However, it concerns the Bulgarian, not Hungarian, Bristols (which is also of interest to me).

Can I ask you to check your reference for the Hungarian machines?
Thanks.

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by Bruce Dennis

"The supervising Commission eventually found out about the plot, .."
Do you know when 'the plot' was discovered?

Momentarily, I am on vacation in Transylvania, so I have no access to my references.
However, I cannot recall any further details of this 'plot busting' (by the French). I need to check what I have once at home.

[Col Bruggy]

Denes,

Apologies, l misread my notes on the Bulgarian Bristol Tourers and substituted Hungarian for Bulgarian - which l have now edited.

Col.

[Dénes Bernád]

Dear Col.,

Is there any info in the book you quoted on the Hungarian machines?

Thanks, in advance,

[Col Bruggy]

Hello Denes,

There is no mention at all of Hungarian Bristols in Bowyer's book.

Col.

[Bruce Dennis]

There are several references at Kew to the Short Bros supply of training machines to Hungary in the same period.

Bruce

[Dénes Bernád]

Bruce, now I am at home and found a few scant info on F.2Bs (powered by a 300 hp engine) built by Short Bros. being sold to Hungary by a certain Mr. Chamier.

I am wondering if the files you mentioned at Kew contain any specific info on this shady deal. Same with the Bristol Type 83, known in Hungary as Bristol School.