Vickers E.F.B.8

E.F.B.8
Role	Fighter aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Vickers Limited
Designer	Rex Pierson
First flight	November 1915
Status	Prototype
Number built	1

The Vickers E.F.B.8 was a prototype British twin-engined fighter of the First World War. It was abandoned after only one aircraft was built, single-engined fighters being considered to have superior manoeuvrability.

Development and design

In autumn 1915, as well as the big, cannon armed, Vickers E.F.B.7, Vickers were working on the design of a second twin-engined fighter, the E.F.B.8 (Experimental Fighting Biplane No. 8). This design, which was assigned to Rex Pierson was for a smaller, machine gun armed fighter. With twice the power of Vickers' single-engined pusher Vickers F.B.5 Gunbus, which, while possessing an effective armament, was far too slow, the E.F.B.8 was hoped to have adequate performance.^[1] Like the E.F.B.7, the E.F.B.8 was a two-bay biplane with a steel-tube structure with plywood and fabric covering, and powered by two tractor Gnome Monosoupape rotary engines mounted between the wings. It was however, much more compact, with a wingspan 20 ft (6.1 m) less and 500 lb (230 kg) lighter. The gunner, armed with a single Lewis gun was sat in the nose, while the pilot again like the E.F.B.7. sat under the trailing edge of the wings, remote from the gunner and hindering co-operation between them in battle.^[2][3]

The E.F.B.8 flew in November 1915, demonstrating good performance, being the fastest twin-engined aircraft of 1915,^[4] although not as good as expected.^[5] It was not considered manoeuvrable enough for use as a fighter, and with the prospect of better performing single-engined fighters with synchronised guns, was rejected for production.^[6] The experience designing it proved useful to Pierson, however, when two years later, he came to develop the Vickers Vimy bomber, much larger but of similar layout.^[7][8]

Specifications

Data from Vickers Aircraft since 1908 ^[9]

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 28 ft 2 in (8.59 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 4 in (11.69 m)
• Height: 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
• Wing area: 468 sq ft (43.5 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,840 lb (836 kg)
• Loaded weight: 2,610 lb (1,186 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine, 100 hp (75 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 98 mph (85 knots, 157 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,520 m)
• Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
  
• Endurance: 3 hours
• Climb to 5,000 ft (1,520 m): 10 min

Armament

• Guns: 1× .303 in Lewis gun in nose

See also

Related development

• Vickers E.F.B.7

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Vickers F.B.5

Notes

1. Bruce 1957, p.669.
2. Mason 1992, pp. 47—48.
3. Bruce 1957, pp. 669—670.
4. Bruce 1957, p.670.
5. Green and Swanborough 1994, p.576.
6. Bruce 1969, p.93.
7. Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.76.
8. Mason 1992, p.48.
9. Andrews and Morgan 1988, p.104.

References

• Andrews, C.F. and Morgan, E.B. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London:Putnam, Second edition, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1.
• Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.
• Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Volume Three, Fighters. London:Macdonald, 1969. ISBN 0-356-01490-8.
• Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York, Smithmark, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.
• Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland, USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.