Felixstowe Porte Baby
RNAS Felixstowe · United Kingdom · first flew 1915 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Felixstowe Porte Baby, also known as the Porte F.B.2, was a British reconnaissance flying boat of the First World War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 19.21 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unequal-span three-bay biplane with the hull below the lower wing
- Three engines between the wings, two tractor and one central pusher
- Enclosed pilots' cockpit with open gunner stations
A large flying boat with a wood-and-fabric three-bay biplane wing and Rolls-Royce Eagle engines mounted between the wings.
Specifications
- The Felixstowe Porte Baby has a length of 19.21 m (63 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 37.8 m (124 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 141 km/h (88 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed by John Cyril Porte at the naval air station at Felixstowe and first flew on 20 November 1915. Between November 1915 and 1918 it was the largest flying boat built and flown in the United Kingdom.
Variants
The prototype was built at Felixstowe and ten more were made by May, Harden and May of Southampton, 11 in all.
Where you'll see it
Production aircraft flew North Sea patrols from Felixstowe, Killingholme, Houton Bay and Catfirth, but its slow speed and size made it vulnerable to fighters. On 17 May 1916 one took off carrying a Bristol Scout and released it successfully.
Related aircraft
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