Formed in 1910 as the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, this early British aircraft manufacturer was founded when that business was liquidated and the assets transferred to The Bristol Aeroplane Company Limited. The company designed and manufactured aircraft frames as well as engines. The company is perhaps best known for its 'Blenheim' aircraft, but was also involved in the early work that led to the supersonic Concorde airliner.

In 1956 the company was split into Bristol Aircraft and Bristol Aero Engines. In 1959 the businesses merged along with a number of aviation companies to form the British Aircraft Corporation. In 1977 BAC was nationalised and became part of British Aerospace (BAe). This successor company was ultimately privatised and became BAE Systems.