Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3
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| F.K.3 | |
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| Type | General purpose / Trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft |
| Designed by | Frederick Koolhoven |
| Primary user | Royal Flying Corps |
| Developed from | Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2 |
The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3 was a British two-seat general purpose aircraft built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft.
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[edit] History
The Dutch aircraft designer Frederick Koolhoven joined Armstrong Whitworth in 1914. He designed a series of aircraft that had his initials in their designation. The F.K.3 followed the basic layout of the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c, which Armstrong Whitworth were building for the Royal Flying Corps. It was designed as an improvement, with a simplified structure. Trials at Upavon in May 1916 proved that the F.K.3 had a better performance in some respects than the B.E.2c, although it had a poorer useful load. Armstrong Whitworth were given a contract to build 150 aircraft with another 350 being built by Hewlett & Blondeau Limited at Luton. Production F.K.3s had the pilot's and observer's positions reversed from that of the prototype (and the B.E.2), so that the pilot sat in the front seat and the observer in the rear, thus allowing the observer a much more effective field of fire, although in the event few F.K.3s were flown with armament.
[edit] Operational Service
The F.K.3 was not adopted for use by operational squadrons of the RFC in France, as the more capable F.K.8 and R.E.8 were both already in prospect. Only one overseas unit received the F.K.3 (which was 47 Squadron at Salonika), all the other aircraft were based in the United Kingdom. Most of the aircraft were used for training until replaced by the Avro 504.
[edit] Military Operators
- Australian Flying Corps
- No. 3 Squadron AFC - Used for training.
[edit] Specifications (F.K.3)
Data from The British Bomber since 1914[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 29 ft (8.84 m)
- Wingspan: 40 ft (12.19 m)
- Height: 11 ft 11 in (3.63 m)
- Wing area: 442 ft² (41.1 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,386 lb (629 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,056 lb (983 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× RAF 1A inline piston engine, 90 hp (67 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 77 knots (89 mph, 143 km/h) at sea level
- Service ceiling 12,000 ft (3,660 m)
- Rate of Climb: 5000 ft in 19 min
Armament
- 1 0.303 in Lewis gun in rear cockpit
or
- up to 112 lb bombs (if flown as single seater)
[edit] See also
Related development
[edit] References
- ^ Mason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0 85177 861 5.
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