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British Aviation 1914
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 In August 1912, the Blériot Experimental 2 earned the highest marks in aircraft trials at Larkhill. During the competition, the two-seater broke the British altitude record, climbing to 10,560 feet. Equipped with a more powerful engine, the unarmed B.E.2a was introduced in 1913 and was the first British aircraft to arrive in France during World War I. Featuring built up cockpit combings, the B.E.2b was introduced in 1914 but was soon followed by the B.E.2c. Often called the "Quirk," it was armed with two machine guns and had a modified wing and tail configuration designed to provide a stable reconnaissance platform. In 1915, when air combat began in earnest, squadrons equipped with the B.E.2c suffered heavy losses to more maneuverable enemy |
RAF B.E.2 Country: Great Britain Manufacturer: Royal Aircraft Factory Type: Reconnaissance First Introduced: 1912 Number Built: 3,535 Engine: Renault V8, 70 hp Wing Span: 11.23 m Length: 8.3 m Height: 3.45 m Empty Weight: 621 kg Gross Weight: 972 kg Max Speed: 116 km/h Ceiling: 10,560 ft 3,050 m Endurance: 3 hr 15 min Crew: 2 Armament: 2 machine guns, 7.7 mm (B.E.2c) |
 Introduced toward the end of 1913, the Sopwith Tabloid won the Schneider Trophy at Monaco in 1914. An unarmed single-seater, it was one of the first British biplanes to be used in combat. On the afternoon of 9 October 1914, in the first successful bombing mission of the war, the Royal Naval Air Service sent two Tabloids to attack the Zeppelin sheds at Dusseldorf and Cologne. Only one of them reached its target but Zeppelin Z-9 was destroyed in its shed at Dusseldorf when the Tabloid pilot released two 20 pound bombs from a height of about 600 feet. |
Sopwith Tabloid Country: Great Britain Manufacturer: Sopwith Aviation Company Type: Reconaissance/Bomber First Introduced: 1913 Engine: Gnôme Monosoupape, rotary, 100 hp Wing Span: 24.9 ft 7.49 m Length: 22.8 ft 6.95 m Gross Weight: 1,578 lb 716 kg Max Speed: 92.5 mph Crew: 1 Armament: 40 lb of bombs |
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Original material copyright © 7/8/99 W. Ira Boucher. All Rights Reserved. |
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