Covering the period from the establishment of the Royal Flying Corps in 1912 to the end of World War One, this book explores the development of the major stalwart of military aviation: biplanes. Throughout this period, the birth of the British aviation industry took place with names such as de Havilland, Bristol, Handley-Page and many others emerging and eventually becoming synonymous with British aviation.

World War One spurred innovation and development with the need to maintain or restore competitive advantage in air warfare. During this period, in addition to those aircraft that became household names, many prototype and experimental aircraft were constructed for military purposes, but did not enter service, either at all or in meaningful numbers. Nevertheless, the science of aviation was advanced. This book is a unique reference source for aviation historians and enthusiasts.