F.B.5

The Vickers F.B.5, often called the ‘Gunbus’, was the first purpose‑built British fighter aircraft and the world’s first operational two‑seat fighter. Designed by the Vickers Engineering Works and first flown in February 1915, the aircraft entered Royal Flying Corps service in mid‑1915 and saw action on the Western Front until late 1917. Its biplane layout featured equal‑span wings of wood and fabric, a short, sturdy fuselage and a fixed tailskid undercarriage. Power was supplied by a 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine, giving a top speed of about 70 mph (113 km/h) and a service ceiling of 13 500 ft. The most distinctive element was the forward‑firing .303‑inch Lewis machine gun mounted on a steel scaffold in the nose, allowing the observer‑pilot crew to engage enemy aircraft without the synchronization problems that plagued later tractor‑propeller designs. Although its performance was quickly eclipsed by faster single‑seat fighters such as the Sopwith Camel, the F.B.5 demonstrated the tactical value of armed air‑to‑air combat, influencing subsequent fighter development and establishing Vickers as a key aircraft manufacturer during World I. Its legacy endures as a milestone that paved the way for modern fighter doctrine and aircraft design.

Vickers Limited

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