Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8

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Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8
B.E.8 prototype.jpg
B.E.8 prototype
RoleTwo-seat general purpose biplane
ManufacturerVarious (designed at Royal Aircraft Factory)
DesignerJohn Kenworthy
First flight1913
Introduction1914
Retired1916
Primary user Royal Flying Corps
Number builtapprox 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.

Contents

Development and design

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.

Operational history

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]

Variants

BE.8
Production aircraft with wing warping.
BE.8a
Production aircraft with ailerons.

Operators

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Specifications (BE.8)

Data from The Royal Aircraft Factory [3]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

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References

Citations

  1. Hare 1990, p. 171.
  2. Hare, 1990 p. 174
  3. Hare, Paul R. (1990). The Royal Aircraft Factory (1st ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical. pp. 171–175. ISBN   0851778437.

Bibliography