Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.3
Royal Aircraft Factory · United Kingdom · first flew 1913 · fighter
The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.3, also known as the A.E.1 ("Armed Experimental"), was a British experimental single-engined pusher biplane built before the First World War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.92 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Cruciform |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pusher biplane
- Cruciform tail
- Intended to carry a shell-firing gun
It is a two-seat pusher biplane with the tail carried on a single tubular tailboom, powered by a water-cooled Chenu inline engine.
Specifications
- The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.3 has a length of 8.92 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.19 m (40 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 121 km/h (75 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It first flew in 1913. It was intended to be fitted with a shell-firing gun, but was quickly abandoned after being found to be structurally unsound.
Variants
Only one was built, as a prototype.
Where you'll see it
It did not enter service.
Related aircraft
- Royal Aircraft Factory H.R.E.2
- Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.2
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3
- Borel Military Monoplane
- Bristol S.S.A.
- Martinsyde S.1
- Morane-Saulnier N
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