Armstrong Whitworth F.K.10

The Armstrong Whitworth FK10 was a British four- decker military aircraft from 1917, the short term was used in the First World War, but despite superior maneuverability due to low flight performance is not proven. It was one of the few four- decker, which were built in (albeit very small ) series.

History

Among the most unusual patterns that were designed and built in Britain during the First World War, is one developed by Frederick Koolhoven at Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft FK10 two-seater, the 1917 had its first flight earlier this year.

The interpretation as a four -wing aircraft with four strong staggered wings arranged in conjunction with ailerons on all surfaces imparted to the machine superior maneuverability. The arrangement of the pilot seat directly in front of the observer and the plane behind the wings brought a good field of view when used as a spotter for both. In addition to the 110 -hp Clerget rotary engine and 110 -horsepower Le Rhône and a 130 hp Clerget engines were to be installed. The pattern was produced except for Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft in Elswick in Newcastle upon Tyne (two copies) still at the company Angus - Sanderson in Newcastle upon Tyne ( five copies) and the Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Co. (two copies).

Although the FK10 was the best, four-deck of the First World War, but was overall rather poor flight performance that is below that of the Sopwith were slightly 1 ½ Strutter, so that only a total of nine machines for the Royal Flying Corps ( RFC ) and the Royal Naval Air Service ( RNAS ) were built instead of the initially ordered by the military 50. The machines were in a relatively short period of use subtracted 1917 from the front-line units.

Military use

  • Royal Flying Corps
  • Royal Naval Air Service

Versions

  • FK9 - prototype with a Clerget - 9Z rotary engine with 110 hp (80 kW)
  • FK10 - (series ) production version with revised fuselage and tail, a Clerget 9B rotary engine with 130 hp (97 kW)

Specifications

Comparable aircraft

  • Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter
  • Bristol F.2 Fighter
Elswick (Tyne and Wear) Angus-Sanderson Vickers machine gun
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