FE2b 48"

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The F.E.2 (Farman Experimental 2) designation actually refers to three distinct designs - although all were pushers based on the general layout employed by the French aircraft designers, the Farman Brothers. The first F.E.2 was developed by the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1911 by "rebuilding" the F.E.1 - a "boxkite" style biplane designed and built by Geoffrey de Havilland before he joined the Factory's staff. A further design with the "F.E.2" designation came out in 1913, but was destroyed in a fatal crash when the pilot, R. Kemp, lost control while in a dive.[1] To avoid confusion - these designs are covered in the article for the F.E.1.

The F.E.2a that appeared in February 1914 was yet another totally new design, specifically intended as a "fighter". The first production order was placed in August. By this stage, the "pusher" design was becoming obsolete as far as aerodynamic performance was concerned, however, the RFC had not yet solved the problem of firing a machine gun through the propeller of a tractor aircraft (which the Germans were shortly to manage using Anthony Fokker's interrupter gear) and consequently, pushers, with a clear forward field of fire, remained the favoured configuration for fighters.

The first production batch was for 12 of the initial F.E.2a variant,[3] with a large airbrake under the top centre section, and a Green E.6 engine. This was quickly replaced by the main production model, the F.E.2b which was powered by a Beardmore liquid-cooled inline engine, initially the 120 hp (89 kW) version while later F.E.2bs received the 160 hp (119 kW) Beardmore. The airbrake of the "a" having proved unsatisfactory, it was simply omitted.[4] A total of 1,939 F.E.2b/cs were built.[5] The Royal Aircraft Factory itself built only a few, most construction was by private British manufacturers with G & J Weir, Boulton & Paul Ltd and Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, the main suppliers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Aircraft_Factory_F.E.2

FE2b 48" N171
Skill Level: Intermediate More than 455 parts	SPECIFICATIONS
	Scale: 1/12	Prop: two 9x6 pushers
	Channels: R/E/A/T	Wheels: Balsa Ply w Neo Tires
	Wingspan: 48"	Airfoil Type: flat bottomed
	Wing Area: 498 sq in	Cowl: N/A
Designer: M.K. Bengtson Prototype by: Jon Rider	Weight: ~36 oz	Spinner: N/A
	Power System: AXI 2217/20 with 9x6 prop

	Decals Available	Instruction Manual
FEATURES Dummy Beardmore engine Dummy pilot figures One piece design Scale pull-pull rudder and elevator linkage
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE The F.E.2 (Farman Experimental 2) designation actually refers to three distinct designs - although all were pushers based on the general layout employed by the French aircraft designers, the Farman Brothers. The first F.E.2 was developed by the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1911 by "rebuilding" the F.E.1 - a "boxkite" style biplane designed and built by Geoffrey de Havilland before he joined the Factory's staff. A further design with the "F.E.2" designation came out in 1913, but was destroyed in a fatal crash when the pilot, R. Kemp, lost control while in a dive.[1] To avoid confusion - these designs are covered in the article for the F.E.1. The F.E.2a that appeared in February 1914 was yet another totally new design, specifically intended as a "fighter". The first production order was placed in August. By this stage, the "pusher" design was becoming obsolete as far as aerodynamic performance was concerned, however, the RFC had not yet solved the problem of firing a machine gun through the propeller of a tractor aircraft (which the Germans were shortly to manage using Anthony Fokker's interrupter gear) and consequently, pushers, with a clear forward field of fire, remained the favoured configuration for fighters. The first production batch was for 12 of the initial F.E.2a variant,[3] with a large airbrake under the top centre section, and a Green E.6 engine. This was quickly replaced by the main production model, the F.E.2b which was powered by a Beardmore liquid-cooled inline engine, initially the 120 hp (89 kW) version while later F.E.2bs received the 160 hp (119 kW) Beardmore. The airbrake of the "a" having proved unsatisfactory, it was simply omitted.[4] A total of 1,939 F.E.2b/cs were built.[5] The Royal Aircraft Factory itself built only a few, most construction was by private British manufacturers with G & J Weir, Boulton & Paul Ltd and Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, the main suppliers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Aircraft_Factory_F.E.2