Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.1
Geoffrey de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1910 · light aircraft
The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.1 was designed and built in 1910 by the pioneer designer Geoffrey de Havilland. He used it to teach himself to fly during late 1910.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.19 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-bay pusher biplane
- Elevator carried on booms in front of the wing
- Pilot seated on the lower wing directly in front of the engine
Closely following the lines of the Farman III, it had a front elevator on booms, a second elevator and a rudder behind the wings, and ailerons on the upper wing. It was powered by a 45 hp de Havilland Iris flat-four engine.
Specifications
- The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.1 has a length of 12.19 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.06 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 60 km/h (37 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
After de Havilland was appointed assistant designer and test pilot at the Army Balloon Factory at Farnborough in December 1910, the War Office bought the aircraft for 400 pounds. It was given the designation F.E.1, for Farman Experimental.
Variants
Only one F.E.1 was built. Its wreck was later rebuilt in name as the F.E.2, which was in fact a completely new design.
Where you'll see it
De Havilland and several other pilots flew it at Farnborough until it crashed in the summer of 1911 while piloted by Lt. Theodore J. Ridge.
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