NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
The Vickers F.B. 5 Gunbus was the world's first operational dedicated pure fighter plane. In fact, F.B. stands for Fighting Biplane.
In 1912, the British government issued a request for a fighter aircraft armed with a machine gun. The Vickers F.B. 5 Gunbus was the answer to the request. It became the first British aircraft to have a machine gun as part of its armament. This was mounted directly in front of the aircraft.
It had a forward field of fire unencumbered by a propeller, due to the fact that the aircraft used a pusher prop. An observer/gunner operated the machine gun from the aircraft's front seat while the aircraft was piloted from the rear cockpit.
The Vickers F.B. 5 was deployed to the Western Front in February of 1915, but did not see action until the end of July. That was when an entire squadron comprised solely of the aircraft was formed in France.
While the aircraft proved well built, it did not have the speed to engage many other aircraft of its day. The British government soon realized this and withdrew the F.B. 5 Gunbus from the front lines. It was thereafter used as a trainer. Vickers produced a total of 224 of the aircraft.
fighter
two
Gnome rotary
100 h.p.
1,220 lbs.
2,050 lbs.
1- 7.7 mm
27' 2"
36' 6"
70 mph
400 fpm
9,000 feet
240 miles
10/10/1914
1915
Radio Control Airplane
F.B.5 Gunbus rc built by Ray Williams; giant scale; wingspan 144 1/2"; fuselage length 107 1/2".
Radio Control Airplanes:
Cleveland Model has plans for the rc Vickers F.B.5 Gunbus. Wing spans are14", 18 3/4", 28", 37 1/2", 56", 75" and 112 1/2".
The rc Vickers F.B.5 Gunbus makes an unusual and interesting scale model rc airplane. We wish that kits were available for it. It would probably be a hit with rc modelers.
Vickers F.B. 5 Gun Bus
