Armstrong Whitworth F.K.6
Armstrong Whitworth · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · fighter
The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.6 was an experimental escort fighter triplane built during the First World War. It carried two gunners in nacelles.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Deep fuselage filling the gap between the middle and lower wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-bay triplane whose middle wing has a much greater span than the upper and lower wings
- Gunner's nacelles slung under the middle wing
- Deep fuselage filling the gap between the middle and lower wings
A large tractor triplane with a single 250 hp Rolls-Royce Eagle engine. Its gunners sat behind and outboard of the propeller, and it had two pairs of wheels with a narrow track under the fuselage.
Specifications
- The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.6 has a length of 11.29 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.9 m (62 ft).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed by Frederick Koolhoven to a 1916 War Office specification for a multi-seat escort fighter powered by a Rolls-Royce Eagle. Koolhoven reworked his unflown F.K.5 design into the larger two-bay F.K.6.
Variants
The F.K.5 never flew. Four F.K.6 were ordered in April 1916, but only one was built.
Where you'll see it
Tested with poor performance, it was abandoned once effective synchronising gears became available. No further development or production followed.
Related aircraft
- Armstrong Whitworth Ara
- Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
- Armstrong Whitworth Awana
- Armstrong Whitworth Wolf
- Airco DH.5
- Albatros D.I
- Albatros D.II
- Albatros D.IV
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