| E.F.B.8 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Fighter aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Vickers Limited |
| Designer | Rex Pierson |
| First flight | November 1915 |
| Status | Prototype |
| Number built | 1 |
The Vickers E.F.B.8 was a prototype British twin-engined fighter of the First World War. It was abandoned after only one aircraft was built, single-engined fighters being considered to have superior manoeuvrability.
Development and design[]
In autumn 1915, as well as the big, cannon armed, Vickers E.F.B.7, Vickers were working on the design of a second twin-engined fighter, the E.F.B.8 (Experimental Fighting Biplane No. 8). This design, which was assigned to Rex Pierson was for a smaller, machine gun armed fighter. With twice the power of Vickers' single-engined pusher Vickers F.B.5 Gunbus, which, while possessing an effective armament, was far too slow, the E.F.B.8 was hoped to have adequate performance.[1] Like the E.F.B.7, the E.F.B.8 was a two-bay biplane with a steel-tube structure with plywood and fabic covering, and powered by two tractor Gnome Monosoupape rotary engines mounted between the wings. It was however, much more compact, with a wingspan 20 ft (6.1 m) less and 500 lb (230 kg) lighter. The gunner, armed with a single Lewis gun was sat in the nose, while the pilot again like the E.F.B.7. sat under the trailing edge of the wings, remote from the gunner and hindering co-operation between them in battle.[2][3]
The E.F.B.8 flew in November 1915, demonstrating good performance, being the fastest twin-engined aircraft of 1915,[4] although not as good as expected.[5] It was not considered manoeuvrable enough for use as a fighter, and with the prospect of better performing single-engined fighters with synchronised guns, was rejected for production.[6] The experience designing it proved useful to Pierson, however, when two years later, he came to develop the Vickers Vimy bomber, much larger but of similar layout.[7][8]
Specifications[]
Data from Vickers Aircraft since 1908 [9]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Length: 28 ft 2 in (8.59 m)
- Wingspan: 38 ft 4 in (11.69 m)
- Height: 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
- Wing area: 468 sq ft (43.5 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,840 lb (836 kg)
- Loaded weight: 2,610 lb (1,186 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine, 100 hp (75 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 98 mph (85 knots, 157 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,520 m)
- Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
- Endurance: 3 hours
- Climb to 5,000 ft (1,520 m): 10 min
Armament
See also[]
Notes[]
References[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vickers aircraft. |
- Andrews, C.F. and Morgan, E.B. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London:Putnam, Second edition, 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.
- Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland, USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.
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The original article can be found at Vickers E.F.B.8 and the edit history here.