Felixstowe F.4 Fury
Seaplane Experimental Station · United Kingdom · first flew 1918 · transport aircraft
The Felixstowe F.4 Fury was a massive British five-engine triplane flying boat developed at the Seaplane Experimental Station at Felixstowe during World War One. It was the largest British aircraft of the war and intended for very long-range maritime patrol over the North Sea.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 19.25 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI British five-engine flying boat — largest British aircraft of WWI (engine count capped at 4; actual total 5)
- Triplane configuration with three stacked wings
- Developed at Felixstowe for long-range maritime patrol
Enormous triplane flying boat with five engines (four wing-mounted and one on the nose or between wings), twin tail fins, and a large hull; the three-wing stack and vast span make it unmistakeable.
Specifications
- The Felixstowe F.4 Fury has a length of 19.25 m (63 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 37.49 m (123 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 156 km/h (97 mph).
- Typical crew: 6.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1918 near the end of WWI, the Fury was too late to see operational service before the Armistice. Only one aircraft was completed, and although it demonstrated its capability in post-war trials including a planned but ultimately cancelled Atlantic crossing attempt, no production order followed.
Variants
Only a single prototype was built; no production version was ordered.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service; used only for experimental trials in the UK after the Armistice. Its British origin is directly relevant to its history.
Related aircraft
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