Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.1 And B.E.2

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The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine, two-seat biplane designed by the Royal Aircraft Factory and used during WW1.

Time Period: Pre-WW1, World War I
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Biplane, Reconnaissance, Light Bomber, Night Fighter, Trainer, Coastal Patrol Aircraft
Manufacturer: Royal Aircraft Factory, Vickers, Bristol, and Ruston

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 Aircraft Overview

The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine biplane reconnaissance aircraft produced during World War I. It was designed by Geoffrey de Havilland, and it was one of the first aircraft to be developed specifically for military reconnaissance purposes.

The B.E.2 entered service with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in 1912, and it saw extensive use throughout World War I. It was used primarily for reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions, although it was also used for bombing and ground attack missions later in the war.

The B.E.2 was a relatively slow and stable aircraft, and it was equipped with a wireless telegraph for communication with ground forces. It was armed with a single Lewis machine gun, which was mounted on a flexible mount and operated by the observer in the rear cockpit.

The B.E.2 was known for its excellent stability and its ability to fly at high altitudes, which made it well-suited for reconnaissance missions. However, it was also known for being relatively slow and vulnerable to attack, particularly later in the war when it faced more advanced German fighters.

Despite its limitations, the B.E.2 remained an important aircraft throughout World War I, and it played a key role in the development of aerial reconnaissance and military aviation in general.

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 Specifications

Crew: Two
Length: 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
Height: 11 ft 1.5 in (3.391 m)
Wing area: 371 sq ft (34.5 m²)
Empty weight: 1,370 lb (621 kg)
Gross weight: 2,350 lb (1,066 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × RAF 1a V-8 air-cooled piston engine, 90 hp (67 kW)
Propellers: 4-bladed wooden fixed-pitch propeller.

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 Performance

Maximum speed: 72 mph (116 km/h, 63 kn) at 6,500 ft (2,000 m)
Endurance: 3 hours 15 minutes
Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
Time to altitude:

3,500 ft (1,100 m) in 6 minutes 30 seconds
10,000 ft (3,000 m) in 45 minutes 15 seconds

Wing loading: 6.3 lb/sq ft (31 kg/m²).

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 Armament

Guns: Normally 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun for observer, sometimes several.
Bombs: 224 lb (102 kg) of Cooper bombs (with full bomb load it was usually flown as a single-seater as unarmed).