Morane-Saulnier A1 The Morane-Saulnier A1 (also Type AI) was a French parasol-wing fighter aircraft produced by Morane-Saulnier during World War I. The A1 was developed as a refinement of the Morane-Saulnier Type N concept, and was intended to replace the Nieuport 17 and SPAD VII in French service, in competition with the SPAD XIII, which it was built as a back-up for. Its Gnome Monosoupape 9N 160 CV rotary engine was mounted in a circular open-front cowling. The strut braced parasol wing was swept back. The spars and ribs of…
Month: August 2021
Franco British Aviation (FBA) – Type C
Franco British Aviation (FBA) Type C The Franco British Aviation (FBA) developed a range of aircraft (mainly Flying-Boats):- Type A (production) – powered by a 60 kW (80 hp) Gnome Monosoupape 7 Type A, enlarged production aircraft. Type B – powered by a 75 kW (100 hp) Gnome Monosoupape 9 Type B-2. Over 150 built. Type C – powered by a 97 kW (130 hp) Clerget 9B. 78 built. Type 11 HE.2 – two-seat elementary flying-boat. Type 14 HE.2 – two-seat training flying-boat for the French Navy. 20 built. Scratch…
Nieuport 17 C.1
Nieuport 17 C.1 The Nieuport 17 C.1 was a French sesquiplane fighter designed and manufactured by the Nieuport company during World War I. An improvement over the Nieuport 11, it was a little larger than earlier Nieuports and better adapted to the more powerful 110 hp engine. Apart from early examples, it had the new Alkan-Hamy synchronization gear, permitting the use of a fuselage-mounted synchronised Vickers gun firing through the propeller disc. At the time of its introduction in March 1916, the type’s outstanding manoeuvrability and excellent rate of climb…
Farman MF.11 Shorthorn
Farman MF.11 Shorthorn The Maurice Farman MF.11 Shorthorn is a French aircraft developed before World War I by the Farman Aviation Works. It was used as a reconnaissance and light bomber during the early part of World War I, later being relegated to training duties. Its nickname in British service was derived from that of the MF.7 Longhorn, as it lacked the characteristic front-mounted elevator and elongated skids of its predecessor. It was a pusher configuration unequal-span biplane like the earlier Farman MF.7, the MF.11 differed in lacking the forward-mounted…
Deperdussin TT
Deperdussin TT The Deperdussin TT was a French monoplane built by Société Pour les Appareils Deperdussin, later to become S.P.A.D. Introduced in 1912, the type was one widely used by the French Air Force (then Aviation Militaire) before the First World War. In February 1914, an experiment was made to install a machine gun on the aircraft, but this did not see service. In total, in 1913-14 in France, about 100 copies of the Deperdussin TT were built . The plane had good flight characteristics for its time. It clearly…
Bréguet BR 14
Bréguet BR 14 The Bréguet 14 was a French biplane bomber and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War. It was built in very large numbers and production continued for many years after the end of the war. Apart from its widespread usage, the Bréguet 14 is known for being the first mass-produced aircraft to use large amounts of metal, rather than wood, in its structure. This allowed the airframe to be lighter than a wooden airframe of the same strength, in turn making the aircraft relatively fast and agile…
Aircraft Project – Week 4
Selection of WW1 French aircraft At the start of the First World War, France led the world in an aircraft design. In 1914 it had some 132 operational machines and 21 escadrilles. Initially the Aéronautique Militaire (French Airforce) concentrated on reconnaissance with aircraft like the Blériot XI. On 8 October, it was expanded to a massive expansion to 65 escadrilles. Furthermore, it was proposed that four types of aircraft could be used for four different tasks: Morane-Saulnier Ls would be used as scouts, Voisin IIIs as bombers, Farman MF.11s as…
ROYAL AIRCRAFT FACTORY – Aerial Target
ROYAL AIRCRAFT FACTORY – Aerial Target The Development of Radio Controlled Drone Aircraft Conceived late in 1916, this was a radio-controlled, pilotless aeroplane intended both for defence against Zeppelins and as a flying bomb. In the former role it was planned that it would be controlled from the ground, but in the latter role control from an accompanying manned aeroplane was also considered. To disguise its intended purpose it was always referred to as the Aerial Target. Its wireless apparatus was designed by Capt Archibald M Low of the RFC’s…
VICKERS F.B.26 VAMPIRE
Vickers F.B.26 Vampire The Vickers F.B.26 Vampire was a British single-seat pusher biplane fighter built by Vickers during the First World War. Four were built by Vickers at Bexleyheath, one of these was subsequently modified to become the F.B.26A. The design was a development of the earlier Vickers F.B.12 prototypes; and was a two-bay biplane with a high-mounted nacelle for the pilot and an initial armament of two .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Guns. Behind this was a water-cooled 200 hp (150 kW) Hispano-Suiza engine driving the propeller. The tailplane…
MARTINSYDE F. 3 / F.4 Buzzard
MARTINSYDE F. 3 / F.4 Buzzard In 1917, Martinsyde designed a single-seat biplane fighter powered by a Rolls-Royce Falcon V-12 engine, the Martinsyde F.3, with a single prototype being built as a private venture. A further 6 were ordered in 1917, with the first flying in November that year. Its performance during testing was impressive, demonstrating a maximum speed of 229 km/h. F.3 – Single-seat fighter biplane. Powered by Rolls-Royce Falcon. Seven built. Tow or three of the F.3 Prototypes were tested and used in the Home Defence activities at Biggin Hill in 1918. F.4 Buzzard – Single-seat…