Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5

The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5, later built under the auspices of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, was one of Britain’s most successful fighter types of the First World War. Developed in 1916 as a "Scout Experimental" aircraft, the S.E.5 combined a sturdy airframe with a powerful 200 hp Hispano‑Suiza or 150 hp Wolseley Viper engine, giving it a top speed of roughly 138 mph and a service ceiling above 17,000 ft. Its clean, plywood‑covered fuselage and two‑bay wings provided excellent stability, making it easier to fly than many contemporary fighters while still delivering high maneuverability in the hands of skilled pilots. The aircraft’s armament of a synchronized .303 Vickers machine gun and a wing‑mounted Lewis gun offered a lethal combination of firepower and ammunition capacity.

Operationally, the S.E.5 entered squadrons in early 1917 and quickly became the backbone of the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force. Famous aces such as Albert Ball, Billy Bishop and Edward "Mick" Mannock achieved the majority of their victories in this type, which helped to regain air superiority over the Western Front. Its reliability and production efficiency also set a precedent for post‑war aircraft design, establishing the Royal Aircraft Establishment’s reputation as a leading innovator in aviation engineering.

Royal Aircraft Establishment

Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification