Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3

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F.K.3
Type
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.

Contents 1 History 2 Operational Service 3 Military Operators 4 Units using the F.K.3 5 Specifications (F.K.3) 6 References 7 Related content

[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 was his first design and was based on the Royal Aircraft Factory BE.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 than the BE.2c. Armstrong Whitworth were given a contract to build 150 aircraft with another 350 being built by Hewlett & Blondeau at Luton. Production F.K.3s had the pilots and observers positions reversed from that of the prototype (and the B.E.2), so that the pilot set in the front seat and the observer in the rear, thus allowing the observer a much more effective field of fire.

[edit] Operational Service

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

• United Kingdom
  • Royal Flying Corps

[edit] Units using the F.K.3

• No. 47 Squadron RAF / RFC

[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] References

1. ^ Mason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0 85177 861 5. 

[edit] Related content

Related development

• F.K.8

Designation sequence

F.K.3 - F.K.8