Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8

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F.K.8

Type	Bomber/reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer	Armstrong Whitworth
Designed by	Frederick Koolhoven
Primary users	Royal Flying Corps Qantas
Developed from	Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3

The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 was a British two-seat general purpose aircraft built by Armstrong Whitworth during the First World War.

1 History
2 Operational Service
3 Civil Service
4 Civil Operators
5 Military Operators
6 Units using the F.K.8
7 Specifications (F.K.8)
8 References
9 External links
10 Related content

[edit] History

The aircraft (nicknamed the "Big Ack") was designed by Dutch aircraft designer Frederick Koolhoven as a replacement for the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c and the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3. It was designed as a sturdier aircraft with a larger fuselage, and a reliable water-cooled motor. It was a rival design to the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8. The first aircraft flew in May 1916 and was delivered to the Royal Flying Corps Central Flying School at Upavon. Although it was easier to fly than the R.E.8, and was much sturdier, its performance was even more pedestrian, and it shared the inherent stability of the Royal Aircraft Factory types. None-the-less a total of 1,650 were built, and the type served alongside the R.E.8 until the end of the war. Late production examples were better streamlined - the original crude undercarriage and large box radiators being replaced with tidier units (as in the illustration).

[edit] Operational Service

The F.K.8 served with several squadrons on operations in France, Macedonia, Palestine and for home defence, proving more popular in service than its better known contemporary the R.E.8. The first squadron was 35 Squadron. The F.K.8 was principally used for the corps reconnaisance role, but was also used for light bombing, capable of carrying up to six 40 lb phosphorus smoke bombs, up to four 65 lb bombs or two 112 lb bombs on underwing racks^[1].

Two Victoria Crosses were won by pilots of F.K.8s, with one been won by Second Lieutenant Alan Arnett McLeod of No. 2 Squadron RFC, on 27th March 1918, and the second won by Captain Ferdinand Maurice Felix West of No. 8 Squadron RAF on 10th August 1918.

With the R.E.8, the F.K.8 was sceduled to be replaced in the corps reconnaissance role by a version of the Bristol Fighter with a Sunbeam Arab engine. Unfortunately the engine was unsatisfactory, and this version of the Bristol never saw service. Like the R.E.8, the F.K.8 was quickly discarded with the end of the war - the last Squadron No 150 Squadron being disbanded at Kirec in Greece on 18 September 1919.

[edit] Civil Service

Eight aircraft were civil-registered after the war with two aircraft being used in Australia by the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (later Qantas).

[edit] Civil Operators

Australia
- QANTAS

[edit] Military Operators

United Kingdom
- Royal Flying Corps
- Royal Air Force

[edit] Units using the F.K.8

No. 2 Squadron RAF
No. 8 Squadron RAF
No. 10 Squadron RAF
No. 17 Squadron RAF
No. 31 Squadron RAF
No. 35 Squadron RAF
No. 39 Squadron RAF
No. 47 Squadron RAF
No. 50 Squadron RAF
No. 55 Squadron RAF
No. 82 Squadron RAF
No. 98 Squadron RAF
No. 142 Squadron RAF
No. 150 Squadron RAF

[edit] Specifications (F.K.8)

Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft^[2]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 31 ft 5 in (9.58 m)
Wingspan: 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m)
Height: 10 ft 11 in (3.33 m)
Wing area: 540 ft² (50.17 m²)
Empty weight: 1,916 lb (869 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,811 lb (1275 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Beardmore 6-cylinder inline piston engine, 160 hp (112 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 83 knots (95 mph, 153 km/h) at sea level
Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (3960 m)
Endurance: 3 hours

[edit] References

^ Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.
^ Donald, David and Lake Jon, eds. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-880588-24-2.