| F.B.26 Vampire | |
|---|---|
| Role | Fighter |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Vickers |
| First flight | May 1917 [1] |
| Status | Prototype |
| Number built | 4 |
| Developed from | Vickers F.B.12 |
The Vickers F.B.26 Vampire was a British single-seat biplane pusher fighter built by Vickers during the First World War.
Four were built by Vickers at Bexleyheath, one of these was subsequently modified to become the F.B.26A.
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The design was a development of the earlier Vickers F.B.12 prototypes;[2] it was a single-bay biplane with a nacelle for the pilot and armament of two .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Guns. Behind this was a water-cooled 200 hp (150 kW) Hispano-Suiza engine driving the propeller. The tailplane was a boom-mounted single rudder.
From an initial two Lewis guns, the planned effectiveness of the armament was increased; firstly by adding flexibility in elevation, then by addition of an extra gun. With three guns capable of firing up at a 45° angle, the FB.26 was thought able to engage enemy bombers from below.
The FB.26 was passed to Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath for evaluation and then to No. 141 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps in February 1918 with the service name "Vampire". From their evaluation, it was concluded that it was unsuitable as a fighter for Home Defence. Plans were made to try it as a ground attack aircraft, the Vampire II with a 230 hp (170 kW) Bentley rotary engine, but the war ended before work was completed.[3]
Data from Vickers Aircraft since 1908 [4]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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