REP Type K

Robert Esnault-Pelterie · France · first flew 1911 · light aircraft

The REP Type K was a pioneering early monoplane built by French aviation inventor Robert Esnault-Pelterie, one of the first practical single-engine monoplanes of the pre-WWI era.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsLow-mounted, tapered
E — Engines1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage8.5 m fuselage
T — TailConventional

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Spot it by:

Wire-braced low monoplane with distinctively enclosed REP rotary engine nacelle; undercarriage of two main wheels with a tail skid; fabric wing with pronounced taper to rounded tips.

Specifications

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Esnault-Pelterie was among the earliest European aviators to develop practical aircraft, and his REP monoplanes of 1907–1912 were influential in French aviation circles. The Type K represented a refinement of his monoplane formula with a more reliable power plant and improved wing bracing. Several examples were built and flown by sporting pilots in France and abroad.

Variants

Various REP monoplane sub-types (A through K) differed chiefly in engine choice and wing area.

Where you'll see it

Used by private sporting pilots in France circa 1911–1914; a handful exported.

Related aircraft

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