The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 was a British single-engine biplane aircraft produced during World War I. It was developed as an improvement over the earlier B.E.2 and B.E.3 reconnaissance aircraft.

The B.E.8 entered service with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in 1915, and it was used primarily for reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions. It was armed with a single Lewis machine gun, which was mounted on a flexible mount and operated by the observer in the rear cockpit.

The B.E.8 featured a number of improvements over its predecessors, including a more powerful engine and a redesigned wing structure that provided better stability and control. It was also equipped with a more advanced radio system, which allowed it to communicate more effectively with ground forces.

Despite these improvements, the B.E.8 was still relatively slow and vulnerable to attack, particularly later in the war when it faced more advanced German fighters. It was eventually replaced by newer and more advanced aircraft, such as the Bristol F.2 Fighter, but it remained in service in various roles throughout the war.

Overall, the B.E.8 was an important aircraft in the early years of World War I, and it played a key role in the development of aerial reconnaissance and military aviation in general.