Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 | |
---|---|
B.E.8 prototype | |
Role | Two-seat general purpose biplane |
Manufacturer | Various (designed at Royal Aircraft Factory) |
Designer | John Kenworthy |
First flight | 1913 |
Introduction | 1914 |
Retired | 1916 |
Primary user | Royal Flying Corps |
Number built | approx 70 |
The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 was a British two-seat single-engined general purpose biplane of the First World War, designed by John Kenworthy at the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1913. [1] Small numbers were used by the Royal Flying Corps over the Western Front in the first year of the war, with the type being used as a trainer until 1916.
The B.E.8 was the definitive development of the earlier B.E 3 type, and the last of the B.E. series to be designed with a rotary engine. The main changes were that the fuselage now rested on the lower wing, in the normal way for a tractor biplane, and that the tail unit was changed to the B.E.2 pattern. Three prototypes were built at Farnborough with a single long cockpit for both crew members. The production aircraft had two separate cockpits and were built by sub-contractors. The improved B.E.8a of 1915 had new B.E.2c type wings, featuring ailerons instead of wing warping and a revised tail unit.
Both models of the aircraft entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and a small number served in France in 1914 and early 1915 but most were used by training units. [2]
Data from The Royal Aircraft Factory [3]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related lists
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 | |
---|---|
B.E.8 prototype | |
Role | Two-seat general purpose biplane |
Manufacturer | Various (designed at Royal Aircraft Factory) |
Designer | John Kenworthy |
First flight | 1913 |
Introduction | 1914 |
Retired | 1916 |
Primary user | Royal Flying Corps |
Number built | approx 70 |
The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 was a British two-seat single-engined general purpose biplane of the First World War, designed by John Kenworthy at the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1913. [1] Small numbers were used by the Royal Flying Corps over the Western Front in the first year of the war, with the type being used as a trainer until 1916.
The B.E.8 was the definitive development of the earlier B.E 3 type, and the last of the B.E. series to be designed with a rotary engine. The main changes were that the fuselage now rested on the lower wing, in the normal way for a tractor biplane, and that the tail unit was changed to the B.E.2 pattern. Three prototypes were built at Farnborough with a single long cockpit for both crew members. The production aircraft had two separate cockpits and were built by sub-contractors. The improved B.E.8a of 1915 had new B.E.2c type wings, featuring ailerons instead of wing warping and a revised tail unit.
Both models of the aircraft entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and a small number served in France in 1914 and early 1915 but most were used by training units. [2]
Data from The Royal Aircraft Factory [3]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related lists