RAF B.E.2 Aircraft

B.E.2c, South Lambeth

Production Details

Design Company:

Royal Aircraft Factory

First Flight:

1 February 1912

B.E.2:

4 - Royal Aircraft Factory

B.E.2a:

2 - Armstrong Whitworth 28 - British and Colonial 6 - Coventry Ordnance Works 2 - Grahame-White 2 - Handley Page 12 - Vickers 21 - Unknown

B.E.2b:

1 - British and Colonial 52 - Jonques 6 - Whitehead Aviation 14 - Unknown

B.E.2c:

50 - Armstrong Whitworth 111 - Blackburn 35 - William Beardmore 246 - British and Colonial 200 - Daimler 6 - Eastbourne Aviation 36 - Grahame-White 18 - Hewlett and Blondeau 100 - Ruston, Proctor 12 - South Coast Aviation 103 - Vickers 300 - G & J Weir 120 - Wolseley Motors 5 - Unknown

B.E.2d:

150 - British and Colonial 100 - Rushton, Proctor 200 - Vulcan Motor

B.E.2e:

150 - Barclay Curle 550 - British and Colonial 50 - British Caudron 150 - William Denny 150 - Napier and Miller 200 - Vulcan Motor 120 - Wolseley Motors

Type Specification

Applies to:

RAF B.E.2c

Type:

Reconnaissance and artillary observation

Wing:

Two bay biplane with unswept, equal span, staggered wings. Wooden structure with fabric covering. Ailerons on all four wings

Fuselage:

Box section fuselage with faired top surface mounted on lower wing

Tail Unit:

Wire braced tailplane at top of fuselage with split elevator and single fin and rudder

Landing Gear:

Cross axle type supported on V struts attached to fuselage lower longeron. Tail skid

Power Plant:

One 90 hp RAF 1a V-8 engine mounted in nose driving a four bladed wooden propeller

Accommodation:

Open cockpits for pilot and observer between wings

Armament:

None as standard

Span:

37 ft

Length:

27 ft 3 in

Height:

11 ft 1.5 in

Wing Area:

Unknown

Empty:

1,370 lb

Loaded:

2,142 lb

Max Speed:

86 mph at sea level

Climb:

20 min to 6,500 ft

Ceiling:

10,000 ft

Endurance:

3.25 hr

Preserved in British Museums

B.E.2c:

2699 - Imperial War Museum, South Lambeth - Display

B.E.2b Replica:

687 - RAF Museum, Hendon - Display

B.E.2c Replica:

Unmarked - Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington - Display

Web Sites