RAF B.E.8 Aircraft

Production Details

Design Company:

Royal Aircraft Factory

First Flight:

20 August 1913

B.E.8:

2 - Royal Aircraft Factory 11 - Vickers 7 - Coventry Ordnance Works 6 - British and Colonial Aeroplane Company

B.E.8a:

21 - Vickers 21 - Coventry Ordnance Works

Type Specification

Applies to:

RAF B.E.8

Type:

Reconnaissance and artillary observation

Wing:

Two bay biplane with unswept, equal span, staggered wings. Wooden structure with fabric covering. Warping wing surface

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 skids attached to fuselage lower longeron. Tail skid

Power Plant:

One 80 hp Gnome rotary engine mounted in nose driving a two bladed wooden propeller

Accommodation:

Open cockpits for pilot and observer between wings

Span:

37 ft 8 in

Length:

27 ft 4 in

Height:

9 ft 4 in

Wing Area:

Unknown

Empty:

Unknown

Max Speed:

70 mph at sea level

Climb:

10.5 min to 3,000 ft

Endurance:

1.5 hours

Preserved in British Museums

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