SE5 (Royal Aircraft Factory) Royal Aircraft Factory - fighter . This single biplane is one of the best British fighters of the First World War. Produced by the British company Royal Aircraft Factory. This machine is a single biplane with wood and canvas dominating the design.
| SE5 | |
|---|---|
 SE5a F9022 | |
| Type of | fighter |
| Developer | Henry Folland |
| Manufacturer | Royal Aircraft Factory |
| Chief Designer | , , and |
| First flight | November 22, 1916 |
| Start of operation | March 1917 |
| Operators | British Air Force USAF Canadian Air Force |
| Units produced | 5,265 |
The SE5a fighter was fast, strong, well-managed in a dive and forgiving many of the mistakes of novice pilots. The aircraft became an equivalent opponent for the Fokker D.VII . Compared to Sopwith Camel , the SE5a was inferior in maneuverability and weapon layout (which, due to constant problems with the synchronizer on Camel, was not a strong drawback). In addition, the original engine was too capricious - this deficiency disappeared with the installation of the engines Wolseley Viper .
Content
History
It was first commissioned in France in April 1917. The aircraft was standardly equipped with a new V-engine Hispano-Suiza with a power of 112 kW (150 hp). Further development of the engine by Hispano-Suiza (Hispano-Suiza) led to the creation of a variant with a capacity of 149 kW (200 hp). The aircraft with this power plant and minor changes was designated as SE5a. Sometimes it was called "esifayf"
In the final stages of the war, SE5a airplanes, armed with light bombs, were also widely used for short-range military support.
This type of aircraft also served in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Palestine and Thessaloniki.
The total production of the SE5 / SE5a aircraft was 5205 copies, including a small number of two-seat training airplanes, which were armed with 24 British, two American and one Australian fighter squadrons.
Performance characteristics
Specifications
- Crew: 1 person
- Length: 6.37 m
- Wingspan : 8.11 m
- Height: 2.69 m
- Wing area: 22.83 mΒ²
- Empty mass : 694 kg
- Weight curb: 880 kg
- Maximum take-off weight: 929 kg
- Engines: 1 Γ Hispano-Suiza (or Wolseley W4A Viper) 200 hp
Flight characteristics
- Maximum speed : 225 km / h
- Cruising speed : 193 km / h
- Landing speed: 135 km / h
- Practical range: 550 km
- Practical ceiling : 5,950 m
- Flight duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Armament
- Machine gun:
- 1 Γ synchronized 7.7 mm Vickers machine gun
- 1 Γ 7.7-mm machine gun Lewis, mounted above the center wing of the upper wing
- Bomb load: up to 4 Γ 18.6 kg bombs