Vickers F.B.12

The Vickers F.B.12 was a biplane pusher aircraft developed during World War I by Vickers Limited

Development and design

At the start of the First World War, Vickers entered into a partnership with the Hart Engine Company to develop a 150 hp nine-cyliner radial engine designed by Hart. This engine was planned to power a number of new designs by Vickers, the first of which was a small single engined pusher biplane fighter, the F.B.12. Bruce 1969, p.101.]

The F.B.12 resembled the D.H.2 and F.E.8. Wood and fabric wings with rounded tips. The circular nacelle was framed in steel tubing, with the engine directly behind the cockpit, driving a wooden propeller. The tail was at the end of an open steel boom. A machine gun was placed inside the front of the nacelle, with only the barrel protruding.

The first FB.12 flew in June 1916, powered by a 80 hp Le Rhône rotary engine as the Hart was not yet available. With this engine, it proved to be underpowered and was re-fitted with a 100 hp Gnome Monosoupape engine. It was then rebuilt with increased wing span and area, becoming the F.B.12A. Bruce 1969, p.102.] In December 1916 it was sent to France for operational testing, where it was deemed as good as the D.H.2 and F.E.8, but still outclassed by the German aircraft.

The F.B.12B was similar to the F.B.12A, but fitted with the originally intended Hart engine, flying early in 1917. In November 1916, meanwhile, the War Office placed an order for 50 Hart powered aircraft, designated the F.B.12C for the RFC. The F.B.12B crashed during tests in early 1917, leading to Vickers abandoning the Hart. Only 18 of the order were built, being fitted with a number of different engines including a 110 hp Le Rhône and a 100 hp Anzani radial. Bruce 1969, p.103.] Tested between May and July 1917, only 1 F.B.12C was delivered, to the Home Defense unit.

The F.B.12D was the final variation, only 1 prototype was produced with a larger 110 hp Le Rhone engine.

Operators

;UK
*Royal Flying Corps

Variants

; F.B.12; F.B.12a : Mono-Gnome engine; F.B.12b : 150 hp Hart radial engine; F.B.12c : flat sided nacelle, larger fin and rudder. 18 production aircraft built.; F.B.12d : 110 hp Le Rhone or 100 hp Gnome Monosoupape engine

pecifications (F.B.12)

aerospecs
ref= War Planes of the First World War: Volume ThreeBruce 1969, p.104.] [Lamberton, 1960. p 78.]
met or eng?=eng

crew=1
capacity=
length m=6.55
length ft=21
length in=6
span m=7.93
span ft=26
span in=
width m=
width ft=
width in=
height m=2.64
height ft=8
height in=8
wing area sqm=19.0
wing area sqft=204
empty weight kg=384
empty weight lb=845
gross weight kg=580
gross weight lb=1,275

eng1 number=1
eng1 type=Gnome Monosoupape nine-cylinder rotary engine
eng1 kw=75
eng1 hp=100
eng2 number=
eng2 type=
eng2 kw=
eng2 hp=

max speed kmh=138
max speed mph=86
cruise speed kmh=
cruise speed mph=
stall speed kmh=
stall speed mph=
range km=
range miles=
endurance h=3
endurance min=
ceiling m=3,500
ceiling ft=11,500
climb rate ms=
climb rate ftmin=

armament1=One .303 in Lewis gun
armament2=
armament3=
armament4=
armament5=
armament6=

ee also

aircontent
see also=
related=
similar aircraft=
lists=*List of aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps

References

Bibliography

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