Felixstowe F.5
Short Brothers / English Electric / Dick Kerr · United Kingdom · first flew 1918 · transport aircraft
The Felixstowe F.5 was a large twin-engine biplane flying boat developed at the end of World War I for the Royal Naval Air Service, representing the final evolution of John Porte's famous Felixstowe series of maritime patrol aircraft. It entered service just as the war ended.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large WWI British maritime patrol flying boat
- Biplane with two pusher engines between the wings
- Deep hull with sponsons and extensive strut bracing
A large biplane flying boat with two tractor engines mounted between the wings on struts, a deep wooden hull, and substantial interplane bracing; the broad lower wing and hull sponsons differentiate it from smaller flying boat types.
Specifications
- The Felixstowe F.5 has a length of 15 m (49 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 31.6 m (104 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 142 km/h (88 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The F.5 was designed at the Seaplane Experimental Station at Felixstowe and built by several British manufacturers including Short Brothers, English Electric, and Dick Kerr. It flew for the first time in 1918 but arrived too late to see significant wartime service. Post-war, it equipped RAF Coastal Area squadrons and was also adopted by several foreign air arms.
Variants
The F.5L was a licence-built American variant with Liberty engines, produced in larger numbers than the British original; several minor engine fits were trialled.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RAF and several Commonwealth and foreign air forces after WWI, and was operated by the United States Navy as the F-5L; not significantly associated with later British operations.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.