Vickers F.B.11
Vickers · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · fighter
The Vickers F.B.11 was a prototype British three-seat escort fighter of the First World War. A large single-engined biplane, it carried one gunner in a nacelle on the upper wing for an all-round field of fire.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.11 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large single-bay tractor biplane
- Gunner's nacelle, or fighting top, attached to and extending forward of the upper wing
- Rolls-Royce Eagle engine in a clean cowling with the radiator behind it
The pilot and one gunner sat in separate cockpits under the trailing edge of the upper wing.
Specifications
- The Vickers F.B.11 has a length of 13.11 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.54 m (51 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 154 km/h (96 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was designed by R. L. Howard-Flanders to a 1916 War Office specification for a multi-seat escort fighter. The first prototype flew in September to October 1916 and was tested at RNAS Eastchurch in November.
Variants
Two prototypes were ordered, but only a single example was completed.
Where you'll see it
It had poor lateral control and performance, and was destroyed in a crash. Effective synchronising gears became available, so none of the escort fighters were developed further.
Related aircraft
- Vickers F.B.12
- Vickers F.B.14
- Vickers F.B.16
- Vickers F.B.19
- Airco DH.5
- Albatros D.I
- Albatros D.II
- Albatros D.IV
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