Felixstowe F.2A
Felixstowe · United Kingdom · first flew 1917 · bomber
The Felixstowe F.2A was the RNAS's principal anti-submarine patrol flying boat of the First World War, developed at the Seaplane Experimental Station at Felixstowe from the American Curtiss H.12. It was an effective and much-improved design that dominated North Sea patrol operations.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Very large biplane flying boat with pusher/tractor engine arrangement
- Twin Rolls-Royce Eagle engines in tractor configuration between wings
- Deep V-bottom hull with pronounced spray chines
The enormous biplane span, deep V-hull flying boat configuration, twin tractor engines mounted between the wings on a central nacelle, and the balanced tail with twin rudders are all distinctive.
Specifications
- The Felixstowe F.2A has a length of 14.1 m (46 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 29.13 m (96 ft).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by John Cyril Porte from the Curtiss H.12 Large America, the F.2A first flew in 1917 and entered RNAS service the same year. It was significantly more seaworthy than its American predecessor, with a purpose-designed hull. F.2As flew extensive anti-submarine patrols over the North Sea and participated in several air battles with German seaplanes.
Variants
The F.2A was the main production version; the F.3 was a larger derivative with greater endurance; the F.5 was a refined postwar development that served into the 1920s.
Where you'll see it
F.2As equipped several RNAS squadrons at Felixstowe, Great Yarmouth and other coastal stations, and the type is credited with sinking at least one German submarine during the war.
Related aircraft
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