A more powerful derivative was built for a competition to provide aircraft for the British War Office.

The aircraft were flown by Harry Busteed, Bristol's test pilot and James Valentine.

[2] These did well in the competition, rated equal fifth and were described at the time as "well-designed and well-constructed" though criticised as "heavy for the wing area" and lacking in power.

However, on 10 September 1912, one of the Competition Monoplanes crashed on Godstow Road, Lower Wolvercote, Oxfordshire, killing Lieutenants Edward Hotchkiss and Claude Bettington.

[4] While this was traced to one of the bracing wires becoming detached, it resulted in a five-month ban of flying of all monoplanes by the military wing of the RFC.