FBA Type A - WW1 French Aircraft & Warplanes - Details, History

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FBA Type A

The FBA Type A was a family of French unequal-span pusher biplane reconnaissance flying boats produced before and during World War I.

Time Period: Pre-WW1, World War I
Country of Origin: France
Type: Biplane, Reconnaissance and Surveillance (Flying Boat)
Manufacturer: FBA (Franco-British Aviation)

FBA Type A Aircraft Overview

The FBA Type A was a French seaplane designed by Société Française des Avions Farman in 1914. It was primarily used for reconnaissance and light bombing missions during World War I.

The Type A had a wooden hull and was powered by a 100-horsepower Gnome engine, which enabled it to reach a maximum speed of 90 km/h. The aircraft had a wingspan of 13.7 meters and a length of 10.4 meters. It was armed with a single machine gun for defensive purposes and could carry small bombs for light bombing missions.

The FBA Type A was widely used by the French Navy during the early stages of World War I, and it was also used by the British Royal Naval Air Service and the Imperial Russian Navy. Despite its limitations, the Type A was highly successful in its role and played an important part in the development of naval aviation.

The FBA company went on to produce a number of successful seaplanes during and after World War I, including the FBA Type B, which was an improved version of the Type A.

FBA Type A Specifications

Crew: 2 (pilot and observer)
Length: 9.14 m (30 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 13.71 m (45 ft 0 in)
Height: 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in)
Wing Area: 32 m² (340 sq ft)
Empty Weight: 640 kg (1,411 lb)
Gross Weight: 907 kg (2,000 lb)
Engine: 1 × Clerget 9B 9-cylinder air-cooled rotary engine, 97 kW (130 hp)
Propeller: 2-bladed fixed-pitch pusher

FBA Type A Performance

Maximum Speed: 110 km/h (68 mph)
Range: 320 km (200 mi)
Endurance: 2.75 hours
Climb Rate: Reaches 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 25 minutes

FBA Type A Armament

Guns: 1 × 7.7 mm (0.30 in) machine gun
Bombs: 2 × 11 kg (24 lb) bombs

FBA Type A Image Gallery

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