List of aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps

Last updated

This is a list of aircraft used by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) from 13 April 1912, when it was formed from the Air Battalion Royal Engineers, until 1 April 1918 when it was merged with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) to form the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RFC operated in parallel with the RNAS, whose aircraft are listed at List of aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service. For a list of Royal Air Force aircraft see List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force.

Contents

British Royal Flying Corps Sopwith Pup Sopwith Pup A7302.jpg
British Royal Flying Corps Sopwith Pup

Operational aeroplanes

Operational aeroplanes
AircraftRoleFirst flightIntroduced to RFC service
Airco DH.1 [1] Fighter / General purposeJanuary 19151915
Airco DH.2 [2] FighterJuly 19151915
Airco DH.4 [3] Light bomber / General purposeAugust 1916January 1917
Airco DH.5 [4] FighterAugust 1916May 1917
Airco DH.6 [5] Trainer19161917
Airco DH.9 [6] BomberJuly 1917November 1917
Airco DH.9A [7] Light bomber/General purposeMarch 1918Introduced to the RAF in 1918
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.2 [8] General purpose19151915
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3 [9] General purpose / Trainer19151916
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 [10] Bomber / ReconnaissanceMay 1916June 1916
Avro Type E/Es/500 [11] General purpose3 March 19121912
Avro 504 [12] Trainer / Fighter18 September 19131913
Blériot XI [13] Trainer / Reconnaissance23 January 19091912
Blériot XII [14] Sport21 May 1909Operated by the Balloon School, not the RFC
Blériot XXI [15] ReconnaissanceFebruary 19111911
Blériot Parasol Monoplane [16] Observation / Trainer / Light bomber23 January 19091912
Breguet Type III [17] Experimental1910 ?
Bristol Boxkite [18] Trainer30 July 19101911 (for the Air Battalion)
Bristol-Coanda Monoplane [19] Trainer1912 ?
Bristol F.2A and F.2B Fighter [20] [21] Fighter / Reconnaissance9 September 1916Late 1916
Bristol Scout [22] Reconnaissance / Fighter23 February 19141914
Bristol M.1 [23] Fighter14 July 19161917
Caudron G.III [24] ReconnaissanceLate 1913 ?
Curtiss JN-3 [25] Trainer ?March 1915 [26]
Curtiss JN-4A [27] Trainer19151917
Curtiss JN-4 (Canadian) [note 1] [28] Trainer ?1917
Deperdussin TT [29] General purpose1912 ?
Farman HF.20 [30] Reconnaissance1913 ?
Farman HF.27 [31] Reconnaissance ? ?
Farman MF.7 Longhorn [32] Reconnaissance1913 ?
Farman MF.11 Shorthorn [33] Reconnaissance / Bomber1913 ?
FBA Type B [34] Reconnaissance (flying boat) ? ?
Grahame-White Type XV [35] Trainer1913 ?
Martinsyde S.1 [36] Fighter1914 ?
Martinsyde G.100 & 102 [37] Fighter-bomber1915mid-1916
Morane-Saulnier G [38] Reconnaissance1912 ?
Morane-Saulnier H [38] Reconnaissance1913 ?
Morane-Saulnier BB [39] Observation1915 ?
Morane-Saulnier I [40] FighterMarch 1916 ?
Morane-Saulnier L [41] ReconnaissanceAugust 1913 ?
Morane-Saulnier LA [42] Reconnaissance ? ?
Morane-Saulnier N [43] Fighter22 July 1914 ?
Morane-Saulnier V [40] FighterApril 1916 ?
Morane-Saulnier P [44] Reconnaissance1914 ?
Nieuport II.N [45] Sport1910 ?
Nieuport IV.G [46] Reconnaissance19111911 (for the Air Battalion)
Nieuport 12 [47] Reconnaissance / Fighter / Trainer1915 ?
Nieuport 16 [48] 1916 ?
Nieuport 17 & 23 [49] January 1916 ?
Nieuport 20 [50] 1915 ?
Nieuport 23bis [51]  ? ?
Nieuport 24 & 24bis [52] 1917 ?
Nieuport 27 [53] 1917 ?
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.1 [54] 4 December 1911 ?
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 [55] 1 February 1912 ?
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3 & 4 [56] 3 May 19121912
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.7 [57]  ? ?
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 & 8a [58] 19131914
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12 [59] 28 July 19151 August 1916
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 [60] February 1914September 1915
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8 [61] September 19152 August 1916
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.1 [62] ReconnaissanceJuly 1913 ?
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5 [63] Reconnaissance / artillery observation19141914
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7 [64] Light bomber and reconnaissance19151915
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 [65]  ? ?
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.2 [66]  ? ?
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.4a [67]  ? ?
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 & 5a [68]  ? ?
Short School Biplane (S.43 & 44) [69]  ? ?
Short S.62 [70]  ? ?
Short Type 184  ? ?
Short Type 827 [71]  ? ?
Short Bomber [72]  ? ?
Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter [73]  ? ?
Sopwith 3-Seater  ? ?
Sopwith 80 hp Biplane [74]  ? ?
Sopwith Camel [75]  ? ?
Sopwith Dolphin [76]  ? ?
Sopwith Pup [77]  ? ?
Sopwith Salamander [78]  ? ?
Sopwith Snipe [79]  ? ?
Sopwith Tabloid [80]  ? ?
SPAD S.VII [81]  ? ?
SPAD S.XIII [82]  ? ?
Vickers Boxkite (Vickers-Farman) [83]  ? ?
Vickers E.S.1 [84]  ? ?
Vickers F.B. 'Gun Carrier'/'Fighting Biplanes' [85]  ? ?
Vickers F.B.5 [86] Fighter17 July 1914November 1914
Vickers F.B.9 [87]  ? ?
Vickers F.B.12 [88]  ? ?
Vickers F.B.14 [89]  ? ?
Vickers F.B.19 [90]  ? ?
Voisin III & V [91]  ? ?

Airships

The airship service was disbanded 1 January 1914 and all airships transferred to the RNAS. See List of British airships

Prototypes

Unmanned aerial vehicles

List of weapons of the Royal Flying Corps

Bombs

Rockets

Machine guns

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sopwith Camel</span> British WW1 biplane fighter aircraft

The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the Sopwith Pup and became one of the best known fighter aircraft of the Great War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sopwith Aviation Company</span> Defunct British aircraft manufacturer

The Sopwith Aviation Company was a British aircraft company that designed and manufactured aeroplanes mainly for the British Royal Naval Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force during the First World War, most famously the Sopwith Camel. Sopwith aircraft were also used in varying numbers by the French, Belgian and American air services during the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sopwith Pup</span> British WW1 biplane fighter aircraft

The Sopwith Pup is a British single-seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good manoeuvrability, the aircraft proved very successful. The Pup was eventually outclassed by newer German fighters, but it was not completely replaced on the Western Front until the end of 1917. Remaining Pups were relegated to Home Defence and training units. The Pup's docile flying characteristics also made it ideal for use in aircraft carrier deck landing and takeoff experiments and training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sopwith 1½ Strutter</span> British WW1 biplane fighter, bomber and reconnaissance aircraft

The Sopwith 1+12 Strutter was a British single- or two-seat multi-role biplane aircraft of the First World War. It was the first British two-seat tractor fighter and the first British aircraft to enter service with a synchronised machine gun. It was given the name 1+12 Strutter because of the long and short cabane struts that supported the top wing. The type was operated by both British air services and was in widespread but lacklustre service with the French Aéronautique Militaire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sopwith Tabloid</span> Type of aircraft

The Sopwith Tabloid and Sopwith Schneider (floatplane) were British biplanes, originally designed as sports aircraft and later adapted for military use. They were among the first successful types to be built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. The "Tabloid", so named because of its small size, caused a sensation when it made its first public appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vickers F.B.5</span> Fighter aircraft; first operational purpose-built fighter

The Vickers F.B.5 was a British two-seat pusher military biplane of the First World War. Armed with a single .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun operated by the observer in the front of the nacelle, it was the first aircraft purpose-built for air-to-air combat to see service, making it the world's first operational fighter aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3</span> British military biplane

The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3 was a British two-seat general-purpose biplane built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft during the First World War. By the end of the war it was considered obsolete for combat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8</span> 1916 utility aircraft by Armstrong Whitworth

The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 was a British two-seat general-purpose biplane built by Armstrong Whitworth during the First World War. The type served alongside the better known R.E.8 until the end of the war, at which point 694 F.K.8s remained on RAF charge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airco DH.5</span> Type of aircraft

The Airco DH.5 was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft. It was designed and manufactured at British aviation company Airco. Development was led by aircraft designer Geoffrey de Havilland as a replacement for the obsolete Airco DH.2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Whitworth F.K.10</span> British WWI quadruplane fighter aircraft

The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.10 was a British two-seat quadruplane fighter aircraft built by Armstrong Whitworth during the First World War. While it was ordered in small numbers for the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, it was not used operationally. It is one of the few quadruplane aircraft to reach production.

The Sopwith Admiralty Type 807 was a 1910s British biplane seaplane designed and built for the Admiralty by the Sopwith Aviation Company.

The Armstrong Whitworth Armadillo was a British single-seat biplane fighter aircraft built by Armstrong Whitworth.

The Nieuport B.N.1 was a prototype British single-engined fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was a single-engined biplane intended to replace the Sopwith Camel, but only one was built, being destroyed in a crash. The Sopwith Snipe was built instead to replace the Camel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BAT Basilisk</span> Type of aircraft

The BAT F.K.25 Basilisk was a prototype British fighter aircraft of the First World War. A single engined biplane intended to meet a requirement to replace the Sopwith Snipe, the Basilisk was unsuccessful, only three being built.

The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.5 and F.K.6 were experimental triplanes built as escort fighters by Armstrong Whitworth during the First World War. They carried two gunners in nacelles mounted on the centre wing. One example of each type was built, with no further development or production following.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vickers F.B.11</span> Prototype British three-seat escort fighter of the First World War

The Vickers F.B.11 was a prototype British three-seat escort fighter of the First World War. A large single-engined biplane, it carried one gunner in a nacelle mounted on the upper wing to give an allround field of fire. Only a single example was completed.

The Sopwith Gunbus was a British fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was a single-engined pusher biplane based on a floatplane built by Sopwith before the war for Greece. Small numbers were built and used by the British Royal Naval Air Service, mainly as a trainer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sopwith Three-seater</span> Type of aircraft

The Sopwith Three-seater was a British aircraft designed and built prior to the start of the First World War. One of the first aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company, it was operated by both the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), being used briefly over Belgium by the RNAS following the start of the War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtiss C-1 Canada</span> Twin-engined bomber aircraft of the First World War

The Curtiss C-1 Canada was a twin-engined bomber aircraft of the First World War which was designed by Curtiss of America to be built by their Canadian subsidiary for the British Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps. Although large orders were placed, only twelve were built, the type being rejected in favour of more capable aircraft such as the Handley Page O/100.

References

Notes

  1. Operated by the RFC Canada.
  2. No serial assigned, donated aircraft probably not flown by the RFC.
  3. Abandoned en route during delivery flight, no serial assigned.
  4. 1 2 3 Ordered by the RFC but delivered to the Royal Air Force.
  5. No serial assigned, previous model B out of service before 1912.

Citations

  1. Bruce, 1982, pp. 38–40.
  2. Bruce, 1982, pp. 41–46.
  3. Bruce, 1982, pp. 49–61.
  4. Bruce, 1982, pp. 61–66.
  5. Bruce, 1982, pp. 66–71.
  6. Bruce, 1982, pp. 72–78.
  7. Bruce, 1982, pp. 78–83.
  8. Bruce, 1982, pp. 90–93.
  9. Bruce, 1982, pp. 93–99.
  10. Bruce, 1982, pp. 100–105.
  11. Bruce, 1982, pp. 110–112.
  12. Bruce, 1982, pp. 112–120.
  13. Bruce, 1982, pp. 128–132.
  14. Bruce, 1982, pp. 133–135.
  15. Bruce, 1982, pp. 135–137.
  16. Bruce, 1982, pp. 138–141.
  17. Bruce, 1982, pp. 142–147.
  18. Bruce, 1982, pp. 148–151.
  19. Bruce, 1982, pp. 153–156.
  20. Bruce, 1982, pp. 169–174.
  21. Bruce, 1982, pp. 174–180.
  22. Bruce, 1982, pp. 161–167.
  23. Bruce, 1982, pp. 180–184.
  24. Bruce, 1982, pp. 191–194.
  25. Bruce, 1982, pp. 201–204.
  26. "Curtiss J / JN".
  27. Bruce, 1982, pp. 209–211.
  28. Bruce, 1982, pp. 211–215.
  29. Bruce, 1982, pp. 215–220.
  30. Bruce, 1982, pp. 229–234.
  31. Bruce, 1982, pp. 234–238.
  32. Bruce, 1982, pp. 238–241.
  33. Bruce, 1982, pp. 241–247.
  34. Bruce, 1982, pp. 247–249.
  35. Bruce, 1982, pp. 259–261.
  36. Bruce, 1982, pp. 272–276.
  37. Bruce, 1982, pp. 276–280.
  38. 1 2 Bruce, 1982, pp. 285–289.
  39. Bruce, 1982, pp. 303–306.
  40. 1 2 Bruce, 1982, pp. 301–303.
  41. Bruce, 1982, pp. 289–292.
  42. Bruce, 1982, pp. 292–296.
  43. Bruce, 1982, pp. 296–303.
  44. Bruce, 1982, pp. 306–312.
  45. Bruce, 1982, pp. 318–319.
  46. Bruce, 1982, pp. 315–319.
  47. Bruce, 1982, pp. 320–325.
  48. Bruce, 1982, pp. 326–328.
  49. Bruce, 1982, pp. 328–333.
  50. Bruce, 1982, pp. 323–325.
  51. Knight, 2011, p.149
  52. Bruce, 1982, pp. 334–336.
  53. Bruce, 1982, pp. 337–338.
  54. Bruce, 1982, pp. 341–344.
  55. Bruce, 1982, pp. 344–370.
  56. Bruce, 1982, pp. 370–375.
  57. Bruce, 1982, pp. 375–376.
  58. Bruce, 1982, pp. 377–381.
  59. Bruce, 1982, pp. 385–397.
  60. Bruce, 1982, pp. 397–426.
  61. Bruce, 1982, pp. 431–436.
  62. Bruce, 1982, pp. 440–444.
  63. Bruce, 1982, pp. 445–451.
  64. Bruce, 1982, pp. 451–458.
  65. Bruce, 1982, pp. 458–464.
  66. Bruce, 1982, pp. 464–468.
  67. Bruce, 1982, pp. 468–471.
  68. Bruce, 1982, pp. 471–481.
  69. Bruce, 1982, pp. 482–483.
  70. Bruce, 1982, pp. 486–487.
  71. Bruce, 1982, pp. 487–488.
  72. Bruce, 1982, pp. 489–490.
  73. Bruce, 1982, pp. 499–509.
  74. Bruce, 1982, pp. 491–493.
  75. Bruce, 1982, pp. 522–535.
  76. Bruce, 1982, pp. 535–544.
  77. Bruce, 1982, pp. 512–519.
  78. Bruce, 1982, pp. 550–552.
  79. Bruce, 1982, pp. 544–549.
  80. Bruce, 1982, pp. 493–498.
  81. Bruce, 1982, pp. 553–558.
  82. Bruce, 1982, pp. 561–564.
  83. Bruce, 1982, pp. 564–565.
  84. Bruce, 1982, pp. 576–581.
  85. Bruce, 1982, pp. 566–568.
  86. Bruce, 1982, pp. 569–573.
  87. Bruce, 1982, pp. 582–584.
  88. Bruce, 1982, pp. 585–590.
  89. Bruce, 1982, pp. 590–596.
  90. Bruce, 1982, pp. 597–601.
  91. Bruce, 1982, pp. 606–610.
  92. D'Orcy's Airship Manual - Royal Aircraft Factory (formerly Army Balloon Factory), Farnborough Archived 6 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  93. Ian, 2009, pp.
  94. Bruce, 1982, pp. 35–37.
  95. Bruce, 1982, pp. 46–49.
  96. Bruce, 1982, pp. 100–101.
  97. Bruce, 1982, pp. 106–108.
  98. Bruce, 1982, pp. 106–109.
  99. Bruce, 1982, pp. 120–122.
  100. Bruce, 1982, pp. 123–128.
  101. Bruce, 1982, pp. 151–153.
  102. Bruce, 1982, pp. 156–160.
  103. Bruce, 1982, pp. 168–169.
  104. Bruce, 1982, pp. 185–189.
  105. Bruce, 1982, pp. 189–191.
  106. Bruce, 1982, pp. 194–196.
  107. Bruce, 1982, pp. 196–198.
  108. Bruce, 1982, pp. 198–200.
  109. Bruce, 1982, pp. 204–220.
  110. Bruce, 1982, pp. 221–223.
  111. Bruce, 1982, pp. 223–226.
  112. Bruce, 1982, pp. 249–251.
  113. Bruce, 1982, pp. 254–256.
  114. Bruce, 1982, pp. 256–258.
  115. Bruce, 1982, pp. 258–259.
  116. Bruce, 1982, pp. 252–253.
  117. Bruce, 1982, pp. 261–268.
  118. Bruce, 1982, pp. 269–270.
  119. Bruce, 1982, pp. 271–272.
  120. Bruce, 1982, pp. 280–285.
  121. Bruce, 1982, pp. 312–314.
  122. Bruce, 1982, pp. 338–341.
  123. Bruce, 1982, pp. 381–385.
  124. Bruce, 1982, pp. 426–430.
  125. Bruce, 1982, pp. 436–440.
  126. Bruce, 1982, pp. 484–485.
  127. Bruce, 1982, pp. 509–512.
  128. Bruce, 1982, pp. 519–523.
  129. Bruce, 1982, pp. 559–560.
  130. Bruce, 1982, pp. 574–576.
  131. Bruce, 1982, pp. 602–605.
  132. Bruce, 1982, pp. 614–616.

Bibliography