Price: £40.00

Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a

The origins of the SE5a were due almost exclusively to the Hispano Suiza engine. Designed by the Swiss Engineer Marc Birkigt it was a 150 HP V8 of considerable promise. The war office ordered 50 and obtained a manufacturing license during the summer of 1915. Having invested heavilly in this engine it was inevitable that the War Office would instruct the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough to proceed with a suitable scout design to utilise this engine. The project was headed by Maj. F. M. Green, Henry Folland and John Kenworthy. The chief test pilot, Maj. Frank Gooden also had considerable input. It was essential that the new design should be both simple to fly and have a considerable advance in performance over previous scout designs.

The first prototype was flown by Major Gooden on September 22nd 1916 at Farnborough, the pilot expressing great pleasure in the handling of the new fighter. Sadly the prototype crashed in January 1917 killing Major Gooden. It was felt that the wing structure had collapsed during aerobatics so the airframe was strengthened considerably and these modifications formed the basis of the SE5's legendary structural strength. The SE5 began equipping 56 Squadron in early 1917 who soon took the new scout to France, although production was held up by shortage of engines. A 200 HP, geared version of the Hispano Suiza was developed and soon became the engine of choice, aircraft equipped with this engine were designated SE5a. The SE5a should have made a greater impact during 1917 than it did. Although 3000 were ordered only 828 were delivered to front line squadrons during that year. Engine problems, both in production and reliablity were the main culprits along with problems with the machine gun interrupter gear. However by early 1918 these problems were behind it and the SE5a was considered by many the finest British fighter on the Western Front. In comparison with the Sopwith Camel the SE5a was less manouverable, but was considerably faster, could climb more quickly and was straightforward to fly which made it an ideal mount for inexperienced pilots.

Many of the first world war's leading fighter pilots flew the SE5a, including Major "Mick" Mannock, (73 victories) the leading British fighter pilot, and the Canadian "Billy" Bishop, (72 victories). Like the Camel, the SE5a did not survive long in the peacetime RAF and was phased out of service by 1920, although many found their way into private hands and film companies. To the best of my knowledge only one genuine SE5a remains in flying condition to this day, the lovingly maintained example regularly displayed by the Shuttleworth Trust.

Performance

Maximum level speed: 135 mph at sea level
Weight: 1,953 lb's all up.
Powerplant: One Hispano Suiza V8 of 200 HP
Armament: One fixed 0.303" machine gun and one Lewis gun mounted on top of the wing using a Foster Mount.