Time Period: World War I
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Biplane, Reconnaissance and Surveillance, Bomber Aircraft
Manufacturer: Royal Aircraft Factory
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 Aircraft Overview
The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 was a British two-seat biplane aircraft designed and built during World War I. It was intended as a reconnaissance and artillery observation aircraft, and it was widely used by the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force on the Western Front.
The R.E.8 had a conventional biplane design, with a wingspan of around 42 feet and a length of just over 27 feet. It was powered by a 150-horsepower engine, which gave it a top speed of around 95 miles per hour. It was armed with a single Lewis machine gun for the pilot and a second Lewis machine gun for the observer.
The R.E.8 entered service in 1917 and quickly became one of the most important reconnaissance and observation aircraft used by the British during World War I. Its sturdy construction and stable flight characteristics made it well-suited for its intended missions, and it was widely used for reconnaissance, artillery observation, and ground attack missions. It was also used in the air-to-air combat role, though it was generally outmatched by newer German fighters.
Despite its strengths, the R.E.8 was not without its flaws. Its open cockpit design left the crew exposed to the elements and vulnerable to enemy fire, and its engine was known to be unreliable at times. However, it remained in service until the end of the war, and it was considered to be a reliable and effective aircraft for its intended purposes.
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 Specifications
- Crew: 2
- Length: 27 ft 10.5 in (8.496 m)
- Wingspan: 42 ft 7 in (12.98 m)
- Height: 11 ft 4.5 in (3.467 m)
- Wing area: 377.5 sq ft (35.07 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,803 lb (818 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,678 lb (1,215 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,869 lb (1,301 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Royal Aircraft Factory RAF 4a V-12 air-cooled piston engine, 140 hp (100 kW)
- Propellers: 4-bladed fixed-pitch propeller.
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 Performance
- Maximum speed: 103 mph (166 km/h, 90 kn)
- Stall speed: 47 mph (76 km/h, 41 kn)
- Endurance: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Service ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,100 m)
- Time to altitude: 6,500 ft (1,981 m) in 21 minutes.
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 Armament
- Guns: 1 x .303 in (7.7 mm) forward-firing Vickers gun and 1 or 2 x .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns in the rear cockpit.
- Bombs: up to 224 lb (102 kg) bombs.
