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Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8

 

 
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Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8
 
 
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The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 was a British
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 two-seat general purpose aircraft
Aircraft

An aircraft is a vehicle which is able to flight by being supported by the air, or in general, the atmosphere, of a planet. Examples include balloons, airplanes and helicopters....
 built by Armstrong Whitworth
Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft

Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company, or Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, was a United Kingdom list of aircraft manufacturers....
 during the First World War
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
.

aircraft (nicknamed the "Big Ack") was designed by Dutch
Holland

Holland is a name in common usage given to two regions in the western part of Netherlands. The name 'Holland' is also often mistakenly used to refer to the whole of The Netherlands....
 aircraft designer Frederick Koolhoven as a replacement for the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2

The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine two-seat biplane in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. About 3,500 were built, used as fighters, interceptors, light bombers, trainers and reconnaissance aircraft....
 and the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3

The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3 was a United Kingdom two-seat general purpose aircraft built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft....
. It was designed as a sturdier aircraft with a larger fuselage
Fuselage

The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a hardpoint attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating Hull ....
, and a reliable water-cooled motor.






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The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 was a British
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 two-seat general purpose aircraft
Aircraft

An aircraft is a vehicle which is able to flight by being supported by the air, or in general, the atmosphere, of a planet. Examples include balloons, airplanes and helicopters....
 built by Armstrong Whitworth
Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft

Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Company, or Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, was a United Kingdom list of aircraft manufacturers....
 during the First World War
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
.

Design and development

The aircraft (nicknamed the "Big Ack") was designed by Dutch
Holland

Holland is a name in common usage given to two regions in the western part of Netherlands. The name 'Holland' is also often mistakenly used to refer to the whole of The Netherlands....
 aircraft designer Frederick Koolhoven as a replacement for the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2

The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine two-seat biplane in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. About 3,500 were built, used as fighters, interceptors, light bombers, trainers and reconnaissance aircraft....
 and the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3

The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3 was a United Kingdom two-seat general purpose aircraft built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft....
. It was designed as a sturdier aircraft with a larger fuselage
Fuselage

The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a hardpoint attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating Hull ....
, and a reliable water-cooled motor. It was a rival design to the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8

The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 was a United Kingdom two-seat biplane reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the World War I. Intended as a replacement for the vulnerable Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2, the R.E.8 was much more difficult to fly, and was regarded with great suspicion at first in the Royal Flying Corps....
. The first aircraft flew in May 1916 and was delivered to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps

The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery cooperation and photographic reconnaissance....
' Central Flying School
Central Flying School

The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. It was established at RAF Upavon, near Upavon, Wiltshire in 1912, and is the longest existing flying training school....
 at Upavon
Upavon

Upavon is a rural village in the England Counties of the United Kingdom of Wiltshire, England. As its name suggests, it is on the upper portions of the River Avon, Hampshire which runs from the north to the south through the village....
. Although it was easier to fly than the R.E.8, and was sturdier, its performance was even more pedestrian, and it shared the inherent stability of the Royal Aircraft Factory types. Nonetheless, a total of 1,650 were built, and the type served alongside the R.E.8 until the end of the war, at which point 694 F.K.8s remained on RAF charge. Late production examples were better streamlined – the original crude undercarriage
Undercarriage

In aviation, the undercarriage or landing gear is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxiing....
 and large box radiator
Radiator

Radiators are heat exchangers used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in automobiles, buildings, and electronics....
s being replaced with tidier units (as in the illustration).

The type was unusual in having dual controls, enabling the observer to control the aircraft in the event of the pilot becoming incapacitated by enemy action.

Operational history

The F.K.8 served with several squadrons on operations in France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
, Macedonia
Macedonia (region)

Macedonia is a geographical and Historical regions of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe whose area was re-defined in the early 20th century....
, Palestine
Palestine

Palestine is a name which has been widely used since Roman times to refer to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. It is derived from a name used already much earlier for a narrower geographical region, mainly along the coastal region....
 and for home defence, proving more popular in service than its better known contemporary, the R.E.8. The first squadron was 35 Squadron. The F.K.8 was principally used for the corps reconnaissance
Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information. Militarily, its shorthand Australian, Canadian, and British form is recce , its American usage form is recon ....
 role, but was also used for light bombing
Bomber

A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, primarily by dropping bombs on them....
, being capable of carrying up to six 40 lb phosphorus smoke bombs, up to four 65 lb bombs or two 112 lb bombs on underwing rack
Hardpoint

A hardpoint is any part of an airframe designed to carry an external load. This technical description includes mountings for podded engines, but most commonly the term is used, as with weapon station, to refer to a point on the wings of military aircraft where external stores such as missiles, bombs, countermeasures, gun pods, or drop...
s.

Two Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration which is, or has been, awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth of Nations countries, and previous British Empire territories....
es were won by pilots of F.K.8s; one by Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant

Second Lieutenant is the lowest Officer military rank in many armed forces.In British English the rank is pronounced second /l?f't?n?nt/ , while in American English it is pronounced second /lu't?n?nt/ ....
 Alan Arnett McLeod
Alan Arnett McLeod

Alan Arnett McLeod Victoria Cross was a Canada recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations forces....
 of No. 2 Squadron RFC
No. 2 Squadron RAF

No. 2 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently one of two RAF squadrons operating in the reconnaissance role with the RAF Tornado GR4A and is based at RAF Marham, Norfolk....
, on 27 March 1918; and the second by Captain Ferdinand Maurice Felix West
Ferdinand Maurice Felix West

Air Commodore Ferdinand Maurice Felix West Victoria Cross Order of the British Empire Military Cross Royal Air Force was an England recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to United Kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations forces....
 of No. 8 Squadron RAF on 10 August 1918.

With the R.E.8, the F.K.8 was scheduled to be replaced in the corps reconnaissance role by a version of the Bristol Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter

The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a United Kingdom two-seat biplane Fighter aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft of World War I flown by the Royal Flying Corps....
 with a Sunbeam Arab
Sunbeam Arab

The Sunbeam Arab was a First World War era aircraft engine.The engine was a V8 of 11.76 litres capacity and developed 208hp at 2,000 rpm. It was developed in 1916 and 1026 were produced in the subsequent two years....
 engine. Unfortunately the engine was unsatisfactory, and this version of the Bristol never saw service. Like the R.E.8, the F.K.8 was quickly discarded with the end of the war – the last squadron, No. 150 Squadron RAF
No. 150 Squadron RAF

No. 150 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It operated Vickers Wellingtons from RAF Newton in 1940....
, being disbanded at Kirec in Greece on 18 September 1919.

Civil service

Eight aircraft were civil-registered after the war with two aircraft being used in Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
 by the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (later QANTAS
Qantas

Qantas Airways Limited is the national airline of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an acronym for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services"....
, then Qantas Airways Ltd.).

Operators


Civil operators

  • QANTAS
    Qantas

    Qantas Airways Limited is the national airline of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an acronym for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services"....


Military operators

  • Royal Flying Corps
    Royal Flying Corps

    The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery cooperation and photographic reconnaissance....
     / Royal Air Force
    Royal Air Force

    The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts....
    • No. 2 Squadron RAF
      No. 2 Squadron RAF

      No. 2 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently one of two RAF squadrons operating in the reconnaissance role with the RAF Tornado GR4A and is based at RAF Marham, Norfolk....
    • No. 8 Squadron RAF
    • No. 10 Squadron RAF
      No. 10 Squadron RAF

      No. 10 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron. The squadron served in a variety of roles over its 90 year history. The squadron disbanded on 14 October 2005 and the aircraft and personnel were transferred to No....
    • No. 17 Squadron RAF
    • No. 31 Squadron RAF
      No. 31 Squadron RAF

      No. 31 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, known as the 'Goldstars', currently operates the RAF Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham, Norfolk.History...
    • No. 35 Squadron RAF
    • No. 39 Squadron RAF
      No. 39 Squadron RAF

      No. 39 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the MQ-9 Reaper since 2007, operating from Creech AFB, Nevada, USA....
    • No. 47 Squadron RAF
      No. 47 Squadron RAF

      No. 47 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the C-130 Hercules from RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire....
    • No. 50 Squadron RAF
      No. 50 Squadron RAF

      No. 50 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force...
    • No. 55 Squadron RAF
      No. 55 Squadron RAF

      No. 55 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Castle Bromwich. It is currently a flying training squadron based at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire....
    • No. 82 Squadron RAF
    • No. 98 Squadron RAF
    • No. 142 Squadron RAF
    • No. 143 Squadron RAF
    • No. 150 Squadron RAF
      No. 150 Squadron RAF

      No. 150 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It operated Vickers Wellingtons from RAF Newton in 1940....


Specifications (F.K.8)


See also


Bibliography

  • Taylor, John W.R. "Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8." Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.


External links