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Armstrong Whitworth F.K.10

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Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft
IndustryAircraft manufacturing
Founded1916
FounderFrederick Koolhoven (chief designer)
Headquarters
United Kingdom
ProductsAircraft, including Armstrong Whitworth F.K.10


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The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.10 was a British two-seat quadruplane—an aircraft featuring four wings—fighter developed by Armstrong Whitworth during the Great War. Although ordered in limited quantities for the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, it never saw active combat deployment. This model is among the rare quadruplane designs to have entered production.

Development

Conceived in 1916 by Frederick Koolhoven,[1] then chief designer at Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, the F.K.10 was intended as a single-engine, two-seater fighter. Koolhoven selected the unconventional quadruplane configuration, a design also explored by Pemberton-Billing (later known as Supermarine) with their P.B.29E and the Supermarine Nighthawk anti-Zeppelin aircraft, as well as the contemporary Wight Quadruplane scout. Around this period, Sopwith was producing the successful Sopwith Triplane fighter.

The initial prototype, designated F.K.9,[2] was constructed and made its maiden flight in mid-1916, powered by a 110 hp (80 kW) Clerget 9Z rotary engine. Its fuselage was relatively shallow, with wings connected by broad, plank-like interplane struts,[3] resembling those on the Sopwith Triplane. Following evaluation at the Central Flying School late that year, the RFC placed an order for fifty units of an improved variant, the F.K.10.[2]

The production version of the F.K.10 featured a deeper fuselage and a redesigned tail assembly, while maintaining the wing layout of its predecessor, the F.K.9. However, its performance lagged behind that of the already operational and effective two-seat fighter, the Sopwith 1½ Strutter. Consequently, only five units from the RFC order were completed, alongside three additional aircraft built for the RNAS.[2] None of these entered operational service, and the design was not pursued further.[4]

Variants

File:Armstrong Whitworth F.K.10.jpg
F.K.10
F.K.9
This prototype was equipped with a 110 hp (80 kW) Clerget 9Z engine.
F.K.10
The production model featured modifications to the fuselage and tail, powered by either a 130 hp (100 kW) Clerget 9B or Le Rhône 9J engine. A total of 50 units were ordered, with only 8 completed.

Operators

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Specifications (F.K.10 with 130 hp Clerget)

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Mason 1992, p.76.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Green and Swanborough 1994, p.25.
  3. ↑ Bruce 1965, p.11-12.
  4. ↑ Bruce 1965, p.13.
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