Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.4
Royal Aircraft Factory · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · bomber
The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.4 was a twin-engine biplane built in 1916 as a cannon-armed ground-attack aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.65 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large two-bay biplane wings with fold-down extensions on the upper wing
- Two pusher engines above the lower wing
- Central tail fin plus two additional vertical rudder surfaces
The lower wing was attached halfway up the fuselage and the aircraft sat close to the ground, with extra wheels on the nose to prevent tipping forward. The two RAF 5 engines were mounted just above the lower wing in a pusher arrangement.
Specifications
- The Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.4 has a length of 11.65 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.49 m (77 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 136 km/h (85 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Royal Aircraft Factory began development shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. The first was built in March 1916 and the second in July 1916, and both were tested at the Central Flying School from May 1916.
Variants
The second aircraft was fitted with Rolls-Royce engines and had no rear cockpit. Designs were made for RAF 3A, 4A or 4B engines but no work was done.
Where you'll see it
It was unsuccessful, and only two were built. Neither performed well in testing.
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