Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3
Royal Aircraft Factory · United Kingdom · first flew 1912 · light aircraft
The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3 was a single-engined, rotary-engined biplane developed by the British Royal Aircraft Factory before the First World War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.31 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Biplane with a rotary engine
- Two-seat training aircraft
- Gnome engine of 50 hp
Look for an early two-seat biplane with a rotary engine in the nose.
Specifications
- The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3 has a length of 8.31 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.04 m (40 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed by John Kenworthy and first flew on 3 May 1912.
Variants
The B.E.4 and B.E.7 were virtually identical aircraft that differed only in the engine fitted.
Where you'll see it
At least five were built. They were introduced in 1912, with the Royal Flying Corps as the primary user.
Related aircraft
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2
- Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.3
- Royal Aircraft Factory H.R.E.2
- Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.2
- ASL Viking
- Avro Type E (Avro 500)
- Avro Type F
- Avro Type G
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.