Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8
Royal Aircraft Establishment · United Kingdom · first flew 1913 · fighter
The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 was a British two-seat biplane of the immediate pre-World War I era, developed as a reconnaissance aircraft from the B.E. (Blériot Experimental) series.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.34 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pre-WWI British two-seat biplane used for reconnaissance
- Tractor-propeller configuration, distinguishing it from pusher BE types
- Fabric-covered wire-braced biplane of Royal Aircraft Factory lineage
A conventional equal-span biplane with a tractor engine and open tandem cockpits, virtually indistinguishable from other RFC two-seaters of 1913–1915 without careful inspection of detail differences.
Specifications
- The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 has a length of 8.34 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.48 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 113 km/h (70 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1913, the B.E.8 entered service with the Royal Flying Corps at the outbreak of WWI but was quickly outclassed by more capable types. It saw limited operational use before being withdrawn to second-line duties.
Variants
The B.E.8a was a minor variant with revised engine installation; production of both marks was small.
Where you'll see it
Served briefly with the Royal Flying Corps in France in 1914–1915, primarily in the reconnaissance role before being replaced.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.