The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7 was a British single-engine biplane aircraft developed during World War I. It was designed as a reconnaissance and artillery observation aircraft, and it was intended to provide better performance and protection for the pilot than earlier designs.

The R.E.7 was an improved version of the R.E.5, featuring a larger wingspan, a more powerful engine, and improved armament. It was powered by a 120-horsepower engine, which gave it a top speed of around 95 miles per hour, and it was armed with two machine guns – one mounted in the observer’s cockpit and the other in the pilot’s cockpit – for defensive purposes.

The R.E.7 entered service in 1916, and it was used primarily for reconnaissance and artillery observation missions on the Western Front. It was well-regarded by its pilots for its improved performance and handling characteristics, and it was considered to be a reliable and effective aircraft for its intended purposes.

Despite its strengths, the R.E.7 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.