Vickers F.B.11: Difference between revisions
Chesipiero (talk | contribs) |
|||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
==Development and design== |
==Development and design== |
||
In early 1916, the British [[War Office]] drew up a specification for a multi-seat escort fighter to be powered by one of the new [[Rolls-Royce Eagle]] engines, intended to protect formations of bombers from German fighters such as the [[Fokker E.I]], with an additional role of destroying enemy [[airship]]s.<ref name="Bruce British p25">Bruce 1957, p.25.</ref> While the specification did not require high speed, a good field of fire for its guns was essential,<ref name="Mason fighter p67">Mason 1992, p.67.</ref> while the secondary anti-Zeppelin role demanded an endurance of at least seven hours.<ref name="Bruce British p25"/> |
In early 1916, the British [[War Office]] drew up a specification for a multi-seat escort fighter to be powered by one of the new [[Rolls-Royce Eagle]] engines, intended to protect formations of bombers from German fighters such as the [[Fokker E.I]], with an additional role of destroying enemy [[airship]]s.<ref name="Bruce British p25">Bruce 1957, p.25.</ref> While the specification did not require high speed, a good field of fire for its guns was essential,<ref name="Mason fighter p67">Mason 1992, p.67.</ref> while the secondary anti-Zeppelin role demanded an endurance of at least seven hours.<ref name="Bruce British p25"/> |
||
Orders were placed for prototypes from [[Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft|Armstrong Whitworth]] (the [[Armstrong Whitworth F.K.6|F.K.6]]), [[Sopwith Aviation Company|Sopwith]] (the [[Sopwith L.R.T.Tr.|L.R.T.Tr.]]) and [[Vickers Limited|Vickers]]. All three designs were driven by the need to provide wide fields of fire in the absence of an effective [[Synchronization gear|synchronisation gear]] that would allow safe firing of guns through the propeller disc.<ref name="Bruce British p25"/> |
Orders were placed for prototypes from [[Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft|Armstrong Whitworth]] (the [[Armstrong Whitworth F.K.6|F.K.6]]), [[Sopwith Aviation Company|Sopwith]] (the [[Sopwith L.R.T.Tr.|L.R.T.Tr.]]) and [[Vickers Limited|Vickers]]. All three designs were driven by the need to provide wide fields of fire in the absence of an effective [[Synchronization gear|synchronisation gear]] that would allow safe firing of guns through the propeller disc.<ref name="Bruce British p25"/> |
||
| Line 118: | Line 118: | ||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{ |
{{commons category|Vickers F.B.11}} |
||
{{refbegin}} |
{{refbegin}} |
||
* Andrews, C.F. and Morgan, E.B. ''Vickers Aircraft since 1908''. London:Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1. |
* Andrews, C.F. and Morgan, E.B. ''Vickers Aircraft since 1908''. London:Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1. |
||
| Line 132: | Line 132: | ||
{{Vickers aircraft}} |
{{Vickers aircraft}} |
||
{{wwi-air}} |
{{wwi-air}} |
||
{{Aviation lists}} |
|||
[[Category:British fighter aircraft 1910–1919]] |
[[Category:British fighter aircraft 1910–1919]] |
||
Revision as of 18:38, 23 June 2015
| F.B.11 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Escort fighter |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Vickers Limited |
| Designer | R.L Howard-Flanders |
| First flight | 1916 |
| Number built | 1 |
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 all-round field of fire. Only a single example was completed.
Development and design
In early 1916, the British War Office drew up a specification for a multi-seat escort fighter to be powered by one of the new Rolls-Royce Eagle engines, intended to protect formations of bombers from German fighters such as the Fokker E.I, with an additional role of destroying enemy airships.[1] While the specification did not require high speed, a good field of fire for its guns was essential,[2] while the secondary anti-Zeppelin role demanded an endurance of at least seven hours.[1]
Orders were placed for prototypes from Armstrong Whitworth (the F.K.6), Sopwith (the L.R.T.Tr.) and Vickers. All three designs were driven by the need to provide wide fields of fire in the absence of an effective synchronisation gear that would allow safe firing of guns through the propeller disc.[1]
The Vickers response, the F.B.11, designed by R.L. Howard-Flanders, was a large, single-bay, biplane of tractor layout. Pilot and one gunner sat in separate but closely spaced cockpits under the trailing edge of the upper wing, while a second gunner sat in a nacelle, or "fighting top", attached to, and extending forward of the upper wing.[2][3] The Eagle engine was mounted in a clean cowling, with the radiator fitted behind the engine in the fuselage.[4]
Two prototypes were ordered, with the first flying in September–October 1916,[2] being tested at RNAS Eastchurch in November that year.[5] It proved to have poor lateral control and performance, and was destroyed in a crash.[6] The second prototype was not completed,[7] and as effective synchronising gears were now available (including Vickers own Vickers-Challenger gear), none of the escort fighters were developed further.[8]
Specifications
Data from War Planes of the First World War:Volume Three Fighters [6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 3 (pilot and two gunners)
Performance
- Endurance: 7½ hours
- Climb to 5,000 ft (1,520 m): 16 min 30 s
- Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m) 55 min
Armament
See also
Notes
References
- Andrews, C.F. and Morgan, E.B. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London:Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1.
- Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.
- Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Volume Three Fighters. London:Macdonald, 1969. ISBN 0-356-01490-8.
- Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York:Smithmark, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.
- Lewis, Peter. The British Fighter since 1912. London:Putnam, Fourth edition, 1979. ISBN 0-370-10049-2.
- Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland, USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7