Time Period: World War I
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Biplane, Reconnaissance and Surveillance (Scout)
Manufacturer: Vickers Limited
Vickers F.B.19 Aircraft Overview
The Vickers F.B.19 was a British single-seat biplane fighter aircraft designed and built by Vickers Limited during World War I. It first flew in 1918 and was primarily used for ground attack and bomber escort duties.
The Vickers F.B.19 was a two-bay biplane with a wooden structure and fabric covering. It was powered by a 200-horsepower Hispano-Suiza V8 engine and had a top speed of around 125 miles per hour (201 kilometers per hour) and a ceiling of around 22,000 feet (6,700 meters). The aircraft was armed with two synchronized Vickers machine guns mounted on the fuselage, as well as up to four 25-pound (11-kilogram) bombs or eight 10-pound (4.5-kilogram) bombs.
The F.B.19 was designed as a ground attack and bomber escort aircraft, and was well-suited to both roles thanks to its good speed and maneuverability. It was also relatively heavily armed, which made it effective against ground targets as well as other aircraft.
However, the Vickers F.B.19 was developed too late to see much action during World War I, and only a small number of examples were built. After the war, it was used by a number of air forces around the world, including the Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Spanish Air Force.
Overall, the Vickers F.B.19 was an important fighter and ground attack aircraft of World War I, and helped establish the importance of reliable, multirole aircraft designs in the years following the war.
Vickers F.B.19 Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 18 ft 2 in (5.54 m)
- Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
- Height: 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
- Wing area: 215 sq ft (20.0 m2)
- Empty weight: 900 lb (408 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,485 lb (674 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine, 100 hp (75 kW).
Vickers F.B.19 Performance
- Maximum speed: 102 mph (164 km/h, 89 kn) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
- Endurance: 2 hr 45 min
- Service ceiling: 17,500 ft (5,300 m) (absolute)
- Time to altitude: 14 min to 10,000 ft (3,000 m).
Vickers F.B.19 Armament
- Guns: 1 x 0.303-in Vickers machine gun.
Vickers F.B.19 Image Gallery
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