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| RAF
SE5a |
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Captain
GEH McElroy
No.
24 Sqn RFC
January 1918
Image: © R. N. Pearson |
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| Together with the Camel, the S.E.
5 was the most famous British scout
aeroplane of the Great War, and it was
unquestionably the best design from
the Royal Aircraft Factory. It was just
as easy to handle as the Camel was difficult,
having inherited many of the "automatic
stability" characteristics of the
other Factory products. The stationary
motor and the marked dihedral robbed
the S.E. of much of the Camel's power
of rapid manoeuvre, and it was, in fact,
disliked by pilots skilled in the handling
of rotary types. On the other hand,
supporters claimed that the stability
provided a steady gun-platform and that
the extra speed, combined with the remarkable
diving and zooming qualities, more than
compensated for the inferior agility.
Whilst the Camel could claim more enemy
aircraft on the aggregate, it is significant
that many of the leading British Aces
scored the majority of their victories
whilst flying the type. By October,
1918 over 2900 S.E.s had been delivered. |
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| SPECIFICATIONS |
| Country: |
Great Britain |
| Manufacturer: |
Royal Aircraft Factory |
| Type: |
Fighter |
| First
Service: |
7 April 1917 (S.E.5)
June 1917 (S.E.5a) |
| Number
Built: |
5,205 (S.E.5 and S.E.5a) |
| Engine(s): |
Hispano-Suiza, water cooled, 200 hp (manufacturing
problems)
Wolseley W4a Viper, 200 hp |
| Wing Span: |
26 ft 7 3/8 in |
| Length: |
20 ft 11 in |
| Height: |
9 ft 6 in |
| Empty
Weight: |
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| Gross
Weight: |
1988 lb |
| Max Speed: |
120 mph @ 15,000 ft |
| Ceiling: |
19,500 ft |
| Endurance: |
2.5 hours |
| Crew: |
1 |
| Armament: |
1 Vickers .303 (port side of the fuselage)
1 Lewis .303 gun (mounted atop the upper wing) |
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