My FE2b reproduction..

[John McKenzie]

[John McKenzie]

[LeicesterTiger]

Stunning Lewis! Unfortunately didn't have my camera with me last time either - i'll need a tripod in the Bomber hall so will have to make a proper planned visit at some point. On my last visit, they've put two lights on the floor, in between the wheels, pointing up and shining on the underneath. Not quite sure why - although one of them went out whilst I was looking at the FE!

[John McKenzie]

Hi Leicester T ...Sounds about right ! ..I think that maybe , some of the staff there have had "their" own lights go out also ....A long time ago !

[LeicesterTiger]

No comment!

[LewisS]

Hi John,

In your research on WWI RAF aircraft, did the FE4 twin engine pusher bomber ever show up in the archives?

One of my more finished sim aircraft is the FE4, I don't think it ever made it into production, it probably didn't get past the initial planning stages. There's very little information on it , but I've got a wonderfully detailed 3 view of the plane. It's why I made a "model" of it.

cheers and keep the photo's coming

Lewis

[PaulHare]

Two prototype F.E.4's were completed. The first, in October 1916, had RAF5 engines and was underpowered. A second was built with Rolls Royce Eagles but performance still wasn't up to much.
Paul.

[John McKenzie]

Hi Lewis .....Ref the FE4
...It was originally designed for RAF 3A engines and during this period , new modifications were put underway in order to install RAF5 motors , the engines being mounted on steel tube bearers .
Later conversion drawings were put in hand to replace these with the later Rolls Royce 275 hp motors .
There are a number of miscellanious original drawings still in existance for this machine ,; about 160 appx I believe , (Avia 14/25/1/1-90 and avia 14/25/2/1-58 plus others with dual comonality ).obtainable from the National Archives.) though not enough to build from I strongly suspect ...Some parts such as components within the controls were shared with RE7 etc .The machine had some armour plating and was designed from the outset to have Olio landing gear .....It wasn't a world beater !


And Now back " On Topic " to the FE2b...( Just got to now resize some more photos for same )

Regards John

[crankcase]

Originally Posted by John McKenzie

John
Thanks for refreshing the photo of your plane. Hwo refreshing it is. It only became clear to me how vulnerable the observer is in that little space in the front of the nacelle (i hesitate to call it a cockpit). It also was clear when I saw the video of the plane in flight.

Pls tell me, is the chap strapped in? How in heavens does he prevent from falling out when standing and operating the gun back over the top wing? I just don't see how he can anchor himself.

Now I understand why observers suffered greater stress than pilots!
marc

[John McKenzie]

Hi Marc..( crankcase ) ,. Photos showing the inside of either pilot or gunners positions are almost non-existant ...There is one overhead view of an early V type U/C machine for photo reconaicance work that's quite good , but there's not much more .
Structuraly , there is no reason why (Lap ) seat or any other belts, can't be fitted , though they would not be much use in combat , as also the gunners seat , which , although made and supplied , has been discarded from this RAFM machine since delivery as it supposedly interfeared with the front MG pillar tube .
It is posible that the gunner might have worn the full " Safty " harness that actually "was" available at the time . This incorporated a strap , hanging down between the gunners legs , and presumably adjustable , to be fitted by quick release fitting , to a eye bolt in the floor of the front cockpit ( Or anywhere else that might have proved more suitable ) . However , this would probably have been in most cases , impractical , in heat of combat ;
Although procarious to stand to fire back over the top wing , it was not realy any safer to just sit down and get " Shot -up " !..A case of which was more for self preservation under the circumstances .
At safer times on the way home , when the Lewis could be clipped to one of the side steady clips ,; The gunner / bomb aimer could raise and lock the "pull-up " fabric windscreen ahead of him , which offered a little sheilding from the biting80 mph gale . Also he would have been able to do Camera or aiming work down in the cockpit , behind this in the right circumstances .
Agread ,being a front gunner /observer (and he , usually the officer ) was not the " Best " job in the world , but then neither was being in the trenches !
Best regards John.
PS ..Anyone with any "contemporary" photos of either cockpits , or " Under the skin " details , would be most welcomed to show them here .