The Vickers E.F.B.7 was a prototype British fighter aircraft of the First World War. A twin-engined biplane, the E.F.B.7 was unsuccessful, only one being built.
In August 1914, following the outbreak of the First World War, the British pioneer aircraft designer Howard Flanders was hired by Vickers Limited as an aircraft designer, with his first job to design a fighting aircraft to carry a Vickers 1 pounder (37 mm) cannon.[1] (This was not the well-known pom-pom, but a smaller and lighter long recoil cannon firing less powerful ammunition).[2] Flanders produced a twin-engined development of his earlier Flanders B.2 single-engined biplane, the E.F.B.7 (Experimental Fighting Biplane No.7).[1]
The E.F.B.7 was a two-bay biplane with a steel-tube structure with plywood and fabric covering. It had un-staggered wings, with the upper wings of much greater (i.e. 22 ft (6.7 m)) span than the lower ones. It was powered by two tractorGnome Monosoupaperotary engines mounted between the wings. The gunner sat in a large cockpit in the nose of the aircraft, with a rotating mount for the cannon and an armoured floor claimed to be bulletproof, while the pilot sat in a cockpit behind the wings, so that the pilot and gunner could not communicate.[3][4]
The E.F.B.7 first flew in August 1915, being passed to the Central Flying School for testing. Sometime early in its career, it was fitted with large cowlings to catch oil from the engines.[5] An order for a further twelve aircraft was placed on 20 August 1915, which were to have a modified fuselage, allowing the pilot to sit closer to the gunner and owing to a shortage of Monosoupapes, powered by two 80 hp (60 kW) Renault 80 hp air-cooled V8 engines. The first prototype was modified to this form, becoming the E.F.B.7A. Performance with these less powerful engines was much poorer and the production orders were cancelled on 16 February 1916 before any more were completed.[6]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vickers E.F.B.7.
Andrews, C. F., and Morgan, E.B. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, Second edition, 1988. ISBN0-85177-815-1.
Bruce, J. M. War Planes of the First World War: Volume Three, Fighters. London: Macdonald, 1969. ISBN0-356-01490-8.
Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN1-55750-082-7.
Williams, Anthony G., and Gustin, Emmanuel. Flying Guns: World War I and its Aftermath 1914–32. Ramsbury, UK: Airlife, 2003. ISBN1-84037-396-2.
January 01, 1970
vickers, prototype, british, fighter, aircraft, first, world, twin, engined, biplane, unsuccessful, only, being, built, role, fighter, aircraft, national, origin, united, kingdom, manufacturer, vickers, limited, designer, howard, flanders, first, flight, augus. The Vickers E F B 7 was a prototype British fighter aircraft of the First World War A twin engined biplane the E F B 7 was unsuccessful only one being built E F B 7 Role Fighter aircraft National origin United Kingdom Manufacturer Vickers Limited Designer Howard Flanders First flight August 1915 Status Prototype Number built 1 Developed from Flanders B 2 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Specifications E F B 7 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesDevelopment and design editIn August 1914 following the outbreak of the First World War the British pioneer aircraft designer Howard Flanders was hired by Vickers Limited as an aircraft designer with his first job to design a fighting aircraft to carry a Vickers 1 pounder 37 mm cannon 1 This was not the well known pom pom but a smaller and lighter long recoil cannon firing less powerful ammunition 2 Flanders produced a twin engined development of his earlier Flanders B 2 single engined biplane the E F B 7 Experimental Fighting Biplane No 7 1 The E F B 7 was a two bay biplane with a steel tube structure with plywood and fabric covering It had un staggered wings with the upper wings of much greater i e 22 ft 6 7 m span than the lower ones It was powered by two tractor Gnome Monosoupape rotary engines mounted between the wings The gunner sat in a large cockpit in the nose of the aircraft with a rotating mount for the cannon and an armoured floor claimed to be bulletproof while the pilot sat in a cockpit behind the wings so that the pilot and gunner could not communicate 3 4 The E F B 7 first flew in August 1915 being passed to the Central Flying School for testing Sometime early in its career it was fitted with large cowlings to catch oil from the engines 5 An order for a further twelve aircraft was placed on 20 August 1915 which were to have a modified fuselage allowing the pilot to sit closer to the gunner and owing to a shortage of Monosoupapes powered by two 80 hp 60 kW Renault 80 hp air cooled V8 engines The first prototype was modified to this form becoming the E F B 7A Performance with these less powerful engines was much poorer and the production orders were cancelled on 16 February 1916 before any more were completed 6 Specifications E F B 7 editData from Vickers Aircraft since 1908 7 General characteristicsCrew Two Length 36 ft 0 in 10 97 m Upper wingspan 59 ft 9 in 18 21 m Lower wingspan 37 ft 6 in 11 43 m Wing area 640 sq ft 59 m2 Empty weight 2 136 lb 969 kg Gross weight 7 046 lb 3 196 kg Powerplant 2 Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine 100 hp 75 kW each Performance Maximum speed 75 mph 121 km h 65 kn at 5 000 ft 1 500 m Endurance 2 5 hr Service ceiling 9 000 ft 2 700 m Time to altitude 18 min to 9 000 ft 2 700 m Armament Guns 1 Vickers 1 lbr gunSee also editRelated development Flanders B 2 Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Vickers E F B 8 Royal Aircraft Factory F E 4Notes edit a b Bruce 1969 p 81 Williams and Gustin 2003 pp 86 88 Mason 1992 p 43 Bruce 1969 pp 81 82 Bruce 1969 p 82 Bruce 1969 pp 84 85 Andrews and Morgan 1988 p 104 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vickers E F B 7 Andrews C F and Morgan E B Vickers Aircraft since 1908 London Putnam Second edition 1988 ISBN 0 85177 815 1 Bruce J M War Planes of the First World War Volume Three Fighters London Macdonald 1969 ISBN 0 356 01490 8 Mason Francis K The British Fighter since 1912 Annapolis Maryland USA Naval Institute Press 1992 ISBN 1 55750 082 7 Williams Anthony G and Gustin Emmanuel Flying Guns World War I and its Aftermath 1914 32 Ramsbury UK Airlife 2003 ISBN 1 84037 396 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vickers E F B 7 amp oldid 1046579284, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
