Vickers
Though aeroplanes by the great Vickers firm were never made in huge numbers, their F.B.5 "Gunbus" does have the distinction of being the world's first purpose-designed fighter aircraft.[1]
Vickers aircraft from the Great War or shortly thereafter include:
- Vickers E.S.1 and E.S.2 [note 1]
- Vickers F.B.5 "Gunbus"
- Vickers F.B.7 [note 2]
- Vickers F.B.8 [note 3]
- Vickers F.B.9
- Vickers F.B.11 [note 4]
- Vickers F.B.12 [note 5]
- Vickers F.B.14
- Vickers F.B.16 [note 6]
- Vickers F.B.19
- Vickers F.B.24 [note 7]
- Vickers F.B.25 [note 8]
- Vickers F.B.26 "Vampire" [note 9]
- Vickers F.B.27 Vimy
References
- Notes
- ↑ The ES1 and ES2 were experimental tractor biplanes from 1915 that led to the F.B.19.[2]
- ↑ The F.B.7 was an ungainly twin-engine heavy gun carrier. Ten were initially ordered, but engine shortages and poor performance led to order cancellation.[3]
- ↑ The F.B.8 was another twin-engine prototype from 1915, this time carrying a Lewis gun.[4]
- ↑ The 1916 F.B.11 was a prototype long-range escort fighter with a gunner's nacelle on the upper wing.[5]
- ↑ The 1916 F.B.12 was a small single-seat pusher reminiscent of the F.E.8, but it did not go into production.[6]
- ↑ Four F.B.16 prototype tractor scouts were tested in 1916, but the type did not enter production.[7]
- ↑ Several Vickers F.B.24 two-seaters were tested with various engines in 1917-18, but none entered production.[8]
- ↑ The FB25 was a prototype pusher with side-by-side twin seating intended for anti-airship use, but it crashed and was not pursued further.[9]
- ↑ The FB26 was a 1917 development of the FB12 with good performance for a pusher, but it was not built beyond three prototypes.[10]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- J.M. Bruce. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. Great Britain: Funk & Wagnalls, 1957, 1969. ISBN 0370000382