View source for Engineering:Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8

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{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
 |name=Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8
 |image=B.E.8 prototype.jpg
 |caption=B.E.8 prototype
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
 |type=Two-seat general purpose biplane
 |manufacturer=Various (designed at Royal Aircraft Factory)
 |designer=John Kenworthy
 |first flight=1913
 |introduced=1914
 |retired=1916
 |status=
 |primary user=Royal Flying Corps
 |more users=
 |produced=
 |number built=approx 70
 |variants with their own articles=
}}
|}
The '''Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8''' was a British two-seat single-engined general purpose [[Engineering:Biplane|biplane]] of the First World War, designed by John Kenworthy at the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1913.<ref name="Hare p171">Hare 1990, p. 171.</ref> Small numbers were used by the Royal Flying Corps over the Western Front in the first year of the war, with the type being used as a trainer until 1916.

==Development and design==
The B.E.8 was the definitive development of the earlier B.E 3 type, and the last of the B.E. series to be designed with a [[Engineering:Rotary engine|rotary engine]]. The main changes were that the fuselage now rested on the lower wing, in the normal way for a tractor biplane, and that the tail unit was changed to the B.E.2 pattern. Three prototypes were built at Farnborough with a single long cockpit for both crew members. The production aircraft had two separate cockpits and were built by sub-contractors. The improved '''B.E.8a''' of 1915 had new B.E.2c type wings, featuring [[Engineering:Aileron|aileron]]s instead of [[Physics:Wing warping|wing warping]] and a revised [[Engineering:Empennage|tail unit]].

==Operational history==
Both models of the aircraft entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and a small number served in {{wipe|France}} in 1914 and early 1915 but most were used by training units.<ref>Hare, 1990 p. 174</ref>

==Variants==
;BE.8
:Production aircraft with wing warping.
;BE.8a
:Production aircraft with ailerons.

==Operators==
;{{UK}}
*Royal Flying Corps
**No. 1 Squadron RFC
**No. 2 Squadron RFC
**No. 3 Squadron RFC
**No. 5 Squadron RFC
**No. 6 Squadron RFC
**No. 9 Squadron RFC

==Specifications (BE.8) ==

{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The Royal Aircraft Factory<ref name=<ref name="Hare">{{cite book |last1=Hare |first1=Paul R. |title=The Royal Aircraft Factory |date=1990 |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical |location=London |isbn=0851778437 |pages=171–175 |edition=1st}}</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=2
|length ft=27
|length in=4.5
|length note=
|span ft=37
|span in=8
|span note=
|height ft=9
|height in=4
|height note=
|wing area sqft=368
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Gnome 7 Lambda
|eng1 type=7-cylinder air-cooled rotary piston engine
|eng1 hp=80
|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph=70
|max speed note=at sea level
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=
|range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=1 hour 30 minutes
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude={{cvt|3000|ft|0}} in 10 minutes 30 seconds
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns= Small arms operated by crew
|bombs=1× 100 lb (45 kg) bomb
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|see also=
|related=<!-- related developments -->
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
|sequence=<!-- designation sequence, if appropriate -->
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
*List of aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps
}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Angelucci, Enzo. ''The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980''. San Diego, California: The Military Press, 1983. {{ISBN|0-517-41021-4}}.
* Bruce, J.M. ''British Aeroplanes 1914-18''. London: Putnam, 1957.
* Bruce, J.M. ''The Aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing)'' . London: Putnam, 1982. {{ISBN|0-370-30084-X}}.
* Hare, Paul R. ''The Royal Aircraft Factory''. London:Putnam, 1990. {{ISBN|0-85177-843-7}}.
*''The [[Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft]]'' (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985, p.&nbsp;2819.

<!-- ==External links== -->

[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Rotary-engined aircraft]]

{{Sourceattribution|Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8}}