Vickers F.B.16: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Added photo.
SdkbBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
347,333 edits
m →‎top: Removed overlinked country wikilink and general fixes (task 2)
 
(21 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
⚫
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
⚫
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
| name=F.B.16
| name=F.B.16
| image=File:Vickers FB 16D scan.jpg
| image=Vickers FB 16D scan.jpg
| caption=Vickers F.B.16D
| caption=Vickers F.B.16D
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
| type=[[Fighter aircraft]]
| type=[[Fighter aircraft]]
| national origin=[[United Kingdom]]
| national origin=[[United Kingdom]]
Line 19: Line 21:
| program cost= <!--Total program cost-->
| program cost= <!--Total program cost-->
| unit cost= <!--Incremental or flyaway cost for military or retail price for commercial aircraft-->
| unit cost= <!--Incremental or flyaway cost for military or retail price for commercial aircraft-->
| developed from=
| developed from=
| variants with their own articles=
| variants with their own articles=
}}
}}
|}
|}
The '''Vickers F.B.16''' was a [[United Kingdom|British]] single-seat [[Fighter (aircraft)|fighter aircraft]] of the [[First World War]]. It was originally designed to be powered by an experimental [[radial engine]], development of which was abandoned. When re-engined with more powerful and reliable water-cooled [[V-8 engine]]s, the F.B.16 demonstrated good performance, but only a few prototypes were built, the type not entering service.
The '''Vickers F.B.16''' was a British single-seat [[Fighter (aircraft)|fighter aircraft]] of the [[First World War]]. It was originally designed to be powered by an experimental [[radial engine]], development of which was abandoned. When re-engined with more powerful and reliable water-cooled [[V-8 engine]]s, the F.B.16 demonstrated good performance, but only a few prototypes were built, the type not entering service.

==Design and development==
==Design and development==
In 1914, following the outbreak of the [[First World War]], the British engineering company, [[Vickers Limited]], entered into an agreement with the [[Hart Engine Company]] of [[Leeds]] to fund development of an air-cooled [[radial engine]], planned to generate 150&nbsp;hp (112&nbsp;kW).<ref name="Bruce v3 p100-1">Bruce 1969, pp. 100–101.</ref> Vickers planned several aircraft around the promising new engine, including a [[tractor configuration]] single-seat fighter designed by [[Rex Pierson]], the '''F.B.16'''. Pierson's new fighter, also known as the '''Hart Scout''' was a [[Interplane strut|single-bay]] [[biplane]] with heavily [[Stagger (aviation)|staggered]] wings of unequal span. It had a tubby, [[Ellipse|ellipical]] section fuselage, with the pilot sitting in an open cockpit above the lower wing and the Hart engine enclosed in a neat cowling. Armament was a single [[Interrupter gear|synchronised]] [[Vickers machine gun]].<ref name="Mason Fighter p80-1">Mason 1992, pp. 80–81.</ref><ref name="Bruce British p681-2">Bruce 1957, pp. 681–682.</ref>
In 1914, following the outbreak of the [[First World War]], the British engineering company, [[Vickers Limited]], entered into an agreement with the [[Hart Engine Company]] of [[Leeds]] to fund development of an air-cooled [[radial engine]], planned to generate 150&nbsp;hp (112&nbsp;kW).<ref name="Bruce v3 p100-1">Bruce 1969, pp. 100–101.</ref> Vickers planned several aircraft around the promising new engine, including a [[tractor configuration]] single-seat fighter designed by [[Rex Pierson]], the '''F.B.16'''. Pierson's new fighter, also known as the '''Hart Scout''' was a [[Interplane strut|single-bay]] [[biplane]] with heavily [[Stagger (aviation)|staggered]] wings of unequal span. It had a volumous, [[Ellipse|elliptical]] section fuselage, with the pilot sitting in an open cockpit above the lower wing and the Hart engine enclosed in a cowling. Armament was a single [[synchronization gear|synchronised]] [[Vickers machine gun]].<ref name="Mason Fighter p80-1">Mason 1992, pp. 80–81.</ref><ref name="Bruce British p681-2">Bruce 1957, pp. 681–682.</ref>
[[Image:Vickers F.B.16 side view.jpg|300px|left|thumb|]]
[[File:Vickers F.B.16 side view.jpg|300px|left|thumb|Side view]]
The prototype FB.16 made its maiden flight sometime during 1916,<ref name="Anderews Vickers p53">Andrews and Morgan 1988, p. 53.</ref> but testing showed that the pilot had a poor view, and the engine was prone to overheating. The aircraft was modified by removing the cowling to improve cooling and cutting down the fuselage behind the cockpit to improve the rearwards view. The problems with the Hart engine continued, however, and development of the radial was soon stopped.<ref name="Bruce v3 p107">Bruce 1969, p. 107.</ref>
The prototype FB.16 made its maiden flight during 1916,<ref name="Anderews Vickers p53">Andrews and Morgan 1988, p. 53.</ref> but testing showed that the pilot had a poor view, and the engine was prone to overheating. The aircraft was modified by removing the cowling to improve cooling and cutting down the fuselage behind the cockpit to improve the rearwards view. The problems with the Hart engine continued, however, and development of the radial was soon stopped.<ref name="Bruce v3 p107">Bruce 1969, p. 107.</ref>


The F.B.16 was redesigned to use the water-cooled [[Hispano-Suiza 8]] [[V-8 engine]], rated at the same power as the Hart, with the new fuselage allowing a narrower fuselage. The revised aircraft (which may have been a rebuilt of the Hart powered prototype)<ref name="Mason Fighter p80-1"/>, designated '''F.B.16A''' emerged late in 1916 but was destroyed in a crash on 20 December that year. A second prototype, [[United Kingdom military aircraft serials|serial number]] ''A8963'' was completed in January 1917, being tested at [[RAF Martlesham Heath|Martlesham Heath]] in April. Although a maximum speed of 120&nbsp;mph (193&nbsp;km/h) was demonstrated, no orders followed, the [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5]], easier to maintain and already in production, being preferred.<ref name="Bruce v3 p107-8">Bruce 1969, pp. 107–108.</ref><ref name="Bruce British p683-4">Bruce 1957, pp. 683–684.</ref>
The F.B.16 was redesigned to use the water-cooled [[Hispano-Suiza 8]] [[V-8 engine]], rated at the same power as the Hart, with the new engine allowing a narrower fuselage. The revised aircraft (which may have been a rebuild of the Hart-powered prototype),<ref name="Mason Fighter p80-1"/> designated '''F.B.16A''' emerged late in 1916 but was destroyed in a crash on 20 December that year. A second prototype, [[United Kingdom military aircraft serials|serial number]] ''A8963'' was completed in January 1917, being tested at [[RAF Martlesham Heath|Martlesham Heath]] in April. Although a maximum speed of 120&nbsp;mph (193&nbsp;km/h) was demonstrated, no orders followed, the [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5]], easier to maintain and already in production, being preferred.<ref name="Bruce v3 p107-8">Bruce 1969, pp. 107–108.</ref><ref name="Bruce British p683-4">Bruce 1957, pp. 683–684.</ref>


''A8963'' was rebuilt with a 200&nbsp;hp (149&nbsp;kW) Hispano-Suiza engine, and modified wings as the '''F.B.16D''', emerging in this form in June 1917. It was armed with a single [[Lewis gun]] mounted between the cylinder banks of the engine and firing through a hollow propeller shaft, while a second Lewis gun was mounted on a sliding mount above the upper wing. Performance was once again good, impressing the [[fighter pilot]] and [[air ace]] [[James McCudden]], who recorded reaching a speed of 136&nbsp;mph (219&nbsp;km/h) and said "Whilst flying this machine I got some idea of the speed of future machines, for at 10,000&nbsp;ft it was 30&nbsp;mph faster than anything I had yet flown."<ref name="Andrews Vickers p63-4">Andrews and Morgan 1988, pp. 63–64.</ref> Officials were less impressed with the FB.16D, however, it being critised for structural problems and maintenance access, being described as "not considered suitable in its present form for active service".<ref name="Bruce v3 p109">Bruce 1969, p. 109.</ref>
''A8963'' was rebuilt with a 200&nbsp;hp (149&nbsp;kW) Hispano-Suiza engine, and modified wings as the '''F.B.16D''', emerging in this form in June 1917. It was armed with a single [[Lewis gun]] mounted between the cylinder banks of the engine and firing through a hollow propeller shaft, while a second Lewis gun was mounted on a sliding mount above the upper wing. Performance was once again good, impressing the [[fighter pilot]] and [[air ace]] [[James McCudden]], who recorded reaching a speed of 136&nbsp;mph (219&nbsp;km/h), stating "Whilst flying this machine I got some idea of the speed of future machines, for at 10,000&nbsp;ft it was 30&nbsp;mph faster than anything I had yet flown."<ref name="Andrews Vickers p63-4">Andrews and Morgan 1988, pp. 63–64.</ref> Officials were less impressed with the FB.16D, however, it being criticised for structural problems and maintenance access, being described as "not considered suitable in its present form for active service".<ref name="Bruce v3 p109">Bruce 1969, p. 109.</ref>


Vickers again redesigned the F.B.16, fitting it with two-bay wings of longer (31&nbsp;foot (9.45&nbsp;m)) span and a 275&nbsp;hp (205&nbsp;kW) [[Lorraine-Dietrich 8 Bd]] engine as the '''FB.16E'''. Armament was a more conventional two Vickers machine guns. It was hoped to sell the revised fighter to the French ''[[Aéronautique Militaire]]'', it being allocated the French official designation Vic.16.C1, but no orders followed, the FB.16E being destroyed in a crash on 29 July 1918.<ref name="Bruce v3 p110-2">Bruce 1969, p. 110–112.</ref> A final version was the F.B.16H, which replaced the Lorrane-Dietrich with a 300&nbsp;hp (224&nbsp;kW) Hispano-Suiza, a speed of 147&nbsp;mph (237&nbsp;km/h) being claimed, but yet again, no production followed.<ref name="Bruce British p685">Bruce 1957, p. 685.</ref><ref name="Mason Fighter p80-1"/>
Vickers again redesigned the F.B.16, fitting it with two-bay wings of longer (31&nbsp;foot (9.45&nbsp;m)) span and a 275&nbsp;hp (205&nbsp;kW) [[Lorraine-Dietrich 8 Bd]] engine as the '''FB.16E'''. Armament was a more conventional two Vickers machine guns. It was hoped to sell the revised fighter to the French ''[[Aéronautique Militaire]]'', it being allocated the French official designation Vic.16.C1, but no orders followed, the FB.16E being destroyed in a crash on 29 July 1918.<ref name="Bruce v3 p110-2">Bruce 1969, p. 110–112.</ref> A final version was the F.B.16H, which replaced the Lorrane-Dietrich with a 300&nbsp;hp (224&nbsp;kW) Hispano-Suiza, a speed of 147&nbsp;mph (237&nbsp;km/h) being claimed, but yet again, no production followed.<ref name="Mason Fighter p80-1"/><ref name="Bruce British p685">Bruce 1957, p. 685.</ref>


==Specifications (F.B.16D) ==
==Specifications (F.B.16D)==
{{Aircraft specs
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=War Planes of the First World War:Volume Three Fighters<ref name="Bruce v3 p112">Bruce 1969, p. 112.</ref>
|ref=War Planes of the First World War:Volume Three Fighters<ref name="Bruce v3 p112">Bruce 1969, p. 112.</ref>
Line 44: Line 46:
-->
-->
|genhide=
|genhide=
⚫
|crew=one

⚫
|crew=1
|capacity=
|capacity=
|length m=
|length m=
Line 91: Line 92:
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->



<!--
<!--
Line 132: Line 132:
Armament
Armament
-->
-->

|guns= 2× [[.303 British]] (7.7 mm) [[Lewis gun]]s (one firing through propeller shaft, one above upper wing)
|guns= 2× [[.303 British]] (7.7 mm) [[Lewis gun]]s (one firing through propeller shaft, one above upper wing)

|avionics=
|avionics=
}}
}}
Line 151: Line 149:


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==References==
==References==
{{commons category|Vickers F.B.16}}
{{refbegin}}
{{Refbegin}}
* Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. ''Vickers Aircraft since 1908''. London:Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0 85177 815 1.
* Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. ''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. ''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.
* Bruce, J. M. ''War Planes of the First World War:Volume Three Fighters''. London:Macdonald, 1969. {{ISBN|0-356-01490-8}}.
* Mason, Francis K. ''The British Fighter since 1912''. Annapolis, Maryland, USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.
* Mason, Francis K. ''The British Fighter since 1912''. Annapolis, Maryland, USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. {{ISBN|1-55750-082-7}}.
<!-- insert the reference sources here -->
<!-- insert the reference sources here -->
{{refend}}
{{Refend}}
<!-- ==External links== -->
<!-- ==External links== -->


{{Vickers aircraft}}
{{Vickers aircraft}}
{{Aviation lists}}


[[Category:British fighter aircraft 1910-1919]]
[[Category:1910s British fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Vickers aircraft|F.B.19]]
[[Category:Vickers aircraft|F.B.16]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1916]]

Latest revision as of 15:31, 15 January 2022

F.B.16
Vickers F.B.16D
Role Fighter aircraft
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Vickers
Designer Rex Pierson
First flight 1916

The Vickers F.B.16 was a British single-seat fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was originally designed to be powered by an experimental radial engine, development of which was abandoned. When re-engined with more powerful and reliable water-cooled V-8 engines, the F.B.16 demonstrated good performance, but only a few prototypes were built, the type not entering service.

Design and development[edit]

In 1914, following the outbreak of the First World War, the British engineering company, Vickers Limited, entered into an agreement with the Hart Engine Company of Leeds to fund development of an air-cooled radial engine, planned to generate 150 hp (112 kW).[1] Vickers planned several aircraft around the promising new engine, including a tractor configuration single-seat fighter designed by Rex Pierson, the F.B.16. Pierson's new fighter, also known as the Hart Scout was a single-bay biplane with heavily staggered wings of unequal span. It had a volumous, elliptical section fuselage, with the pilot sitting in an open cockpit above the lower wing and the Hart engine enclosed in a cowling. Armament was a single synchronised Vickers machine gun.[2][3]

Side view

The prototype FB.16 made its maiden flight during 1916,[4] but testing showed that the pilot had a poor view, and the engine was prone to overheating. The aircraft was modified by removing the cowling to improve cooling and cutting down the fuselage behind the cockpit to improve the rearwards view. The problems with the Hart engine continued, however, and development of the radial was soon stopped.[5]

The F.B.16 was redesigned to use the water-cooled Hispano-Suiza 8 V-8 engine, rated at the same power as the Hart, with the new engine allowing a narrower fuselage. The revised aircraft (which may have been a rebuild of the Hart-powered prototype),[2] designated F.B.16A emerged late in 1916 but was destroyed in a crash on 20 December that year. A second prototype, serial number A8963 was completed in January 1917, being tested at Martlesham Heath in April. Although a maximum speed of 120 mph (193 km/h) was demonstrated, no orders followed, the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5, easier to maintain and already in production, being preferred.[6][7]

A8963 was rebuilt with a 200 hp (149 kW) Hispano-Suiza engine, and modified wings as the F.B.16D, emerging in this form in June 1917. It was armed with a single Lewis gun mounted between the cylinder banks of the engine and firing through a hollow propeller shaft, while a second Lewis gun was mounted on a sliding mount above the upper wing. Performance was once again good, impressing the fighter pilot and air ace James McCudden, who recorded reaching a speed of 136 mph (219 km/h), stating "Whilst flying this machine I got some idea of the speed of future machines, for at 10,000 ft it was 30 mph faster than anything I had yet flown."[8] Officials were less impressed with the FB.16D, however, it being criticised for structural problems and maintenance access, being described as "not considered suitable in its present form for active service".[9]

Vickers again redesigned the F.B.16, fitting it with two-bay wings of longer (31 foot (9.45 m)) span and a 275 hp (205 kW) Lorraine-Dietrich 8 Bd engine as the FB.16E. Armament was a more conventional two Vickers machine guns. It was hoped to sell the revised fighter to the French Aéronautique Militaire, it being allocated the French official designation Vic.16.C1, but no orders followed, the FB.16E being destroyed in a crash on 29 July 1918.[10] A final version was the F.B.16H, which replaced the Lorrane-Dietrich with a 300 hp (224 kW) Hispano-Suiza, a speed of 147 mph (237 km/h) being claimed, but yet again, no production followed.[2][11]

Specifications (F.B.16D)[edit]

Data from War Planes of the First World War:Volume Three Fighters[12]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
  • Upper wingspan: 25 ft (7.6 m)
  • Lower wingspan: 22 ft 4 in (6.81 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
  • Wing area: 207 sq ft (19.2 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,376 lb (624 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,875 lb (850 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8 water-cooled V-8 engine, 200 hp (150 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
  • Endurance: 2¼ hours
  • Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,600 m)
  • Time to altitude:
    • 10 min 25 sec to 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
    • 20 min 45 sec to 15,000 ft (4,670 m)

Armament

See also[edit]

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Bruce 1969, pp. 100–101.
  2. ^ a b c Mason 1992, pp. 80–81.
  3. ^ Bruce 1957, pp. 681–682.
  4. ^ Andrews and Morgan 1988, p. 53.
  5. ^ Bruce 1969, p. 107.
  6. ^ Bruce 1969, pp. 107–108.
  7. ^ Bruce 1957, pp. 683–684.
  8. ^ Andrews and Morgan 1988, pp. 63–64.
  9. ^ Bruce 1969, p. 109.
  10. ^ Bruce 1969, p. 110–112.
  11. ^ Bruce 1957, p. 685.
  12. ^ Bruce 1969, p. 112.

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vickers F.B.16.
  • Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. 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.
  • Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland, USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vickers_F.B.16&oldid=1065836276"