Time Period: Pre-WW1, World War I
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Biplane, Reconnaissance and Surveillance (Artillery Observation)
Manufacturer: Royal Aircraft Factory
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5 Aircraft Overview
The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5 was a British single-engine biplane aircraft designed and built during World War I. It was intended as a reconnaissance and artillery observation aircraft, and it was designed to be easy to fly and maintain.
The R.E.5 had a conventional biplane design, with a wingspan of around 40 feet and a length of just over 25 feet. It was powered by a single 90-horsepower engine, which gave it a top speed of around 80 miles per hour. It was armed with a single Lewis machine gun mounted on a flexible mount for use by the observer.
The R.E.5 entered service in 1915, and it was used primarily for reconnaissance and artillery observation missions on the Western Front. It was well-regarded by its pilots for its ease of handling and stable flight characteristics, and it was considered to be a reliable and effective aircraft for its intended purposes.
Despite its strengths, the R.E.5 had a relatively short service life, and it was eventually replaced by newer and more advanced aircraft such as the R.E.8 and the B.E.2c. However, it played an important role in the development of military aviation during World War I, and it helped to establish the importance of reconnaissance and observation aircraft in modern warfare.
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5 Specifications
- Crew: 2 (pilot, observer/gunner)
- Length: 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m)
- Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in (13.57 m)
- Height: 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)
- Wing area: 498 sq ft (46.3 m2)
- Powerplant: 1 × Austro-Daimler piston engine, 120 hp (89 kW).
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5 Performance
- Maximum speed: 78 mph (126 km/h, 68 kn)
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5 Armament
- 3 × 20 lb (9 kg) bombs.
