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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 0761.PDF
JUNE 12, 1919 aeronautics, being the first fighting aeroplane, and was destined to influence the whole of aerial opera tions at the Front. As is generally known, this machine was of the pusher type, and it was therefore possible to mount a Vickers gun in the nose of the nacelle, commanding an unobstructed and very wide range of fire It was the arrival of this machine on the Western Front which established for the first time our aerial supremacy. This supremacy, thanks largely to the " Gun-'bus," lasted for many months, in fact until second machine was built in August, 1915, which proved to be a really fast tractor scout, attaining a speed of over 120 miles per hour. The machine flew before His Majesty the King on the occasion of his visit to the Crayford works in September, 1915. Exhibition flights were also carried out before the Russian authorities. The E.S. 2 was flown to Upavon for the official trials in November, 1915. The pilot proceeded via Hendon, stunted round the aerodrome, and left for his destination without landing. The exploits of j'v.,,,,,^.,,.-;..,..../,:.;,...,..,..:. _ .' (\ MH^HI agsr mw PSIWSSW The Vickers F.B.7, 2 100 b.p. Gnome monosoupape engines the Fokker, with its synchronised gun arrived to dispute it. In spite of this, however, Vickers Fighters remained in commission as late as March, 1916, and their work was of the greatest value. "Barnwell Bullet," or E.S. 1. (Aug., 1915) This machine, which was the first of the tractors, was produced in August, 1915. It was a streamline all-wood machine, built to a very great extent by the late Harold Barnwell personally, and was the pioneer of high performance aeroplanes, as the par ticulars in the accompanying tables will prove. All the unknown aviator on the unknown machine aroused considerable interest. As in the case of the E.S. I, everything in this machine had been sacrificed to performance, and the Vickers synchronised firing gear not having yet been invented, the E.S. 2 could not be considered as a Fighting Scout. The F.B. 7. (Aug., 1915) The Vickers F.B. 7 was probably one of the first twin-engined machines to take the air. The, first flights were made in August, 1915. The power plant The Vickers F.B.8, 2 100 h.p. Gnome monosoupape engines considerations having been sacrificed for performance, the view was unsatisfactory, and, as the synchronised firing gear had not yet been invented, it was not a real fighting machine. It might be mentioned that the E.S. 1 was pro bably the first aeroplane which could be looped con tinuously, and yet climb so that each loop was higher than the previous one. The E.S. 2. (Sept., 1913) Owing to the experience gained with the E.S. 1, a consisted of two 100 h.p. monosoupape engines, and the machine was designed to carry a Vickers i-pdr. auto-gun. The Government looked upon the machine favourably, and ordered 12 similar ones. Informa tion was afterwards received that the monosoupape engines were not available, and a request was made to substitute 80 h.p. Renault engines. This modifi cation involved a considerable loss of power at a time when aeroplanes had little or no reserve. Realis ing that the machine would not be a success with the 76i
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