Vickers F.B.24

Vickers Limited

Industry	Aircraft manufacturing
Founded	1910s
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Aircraft including the Vickers F.B.24 fighter

The Vickers F.B.24 was a British two-seat fighter aircraft developed during the First World War. Despite demonstrating strong performance, only a limited number of prototypes were produced, as the Bristol F.2 Fighter was ultimately selected.

Design and development

During the initial phase of World War I, Vickers Limited created several aircraft designs intended to be powered by the 150 hp (112 kW) Hart radial engine, which Vickers was financially supporting. Among these were two single-seat fighters: the Vickers F.B.12 with a pusher configuration and the Vickers F.B.16 employing a tractor configuration. A third design in this series was the F.B.24, envisioned as a two-seat fighter reconnaissance plane.

However, the Hart engine proved unreliable and was abandoned before the first prototype was completed in December 1916. This necessitated sourcing an alternative engine for the F.B.24, leading to the selection of the Hispano-Suiza 8. The initial two prototypes, designated F.B.24A and F.B.24B, were equipped with a 150 hp Hispano-Suiza engine, with their maiden flight likely occurring around March 1917. These models were later upgraded to incorporate a more powerful 200 hp (149 kW) Hispano-Suiza engine, resulting in the F.B.24D variant.

The F.B.24D featured a two-bay biplane layout supported by interplane struts and housed a rectangular-section fuselage. The pilot and observer/gunner occupied separate open cockpits positioned closely together, with the pilot seated directly beneath the upper wing. Despite transparent panels installed in the upper wings intended to enhance visibility, the pilot's forward view remained significantly restricted.

The F.B.24C closely resembled its Hispano-Suiza-powered counterparts but was somewhat larger and heavier. It utilized a 275 hp (205 kW) Lorraine-Dietrich 8Bd water-cooled V8 engine, whose cylinder blocks were enclosed within prominent fairings extending from the upper corners of the cowling, further limiting pilot visibility. Although tested by French authorities and claimed by Vickers to have commendable performance, the French evaluation revealed that its climb rate did not meet expectations, leading to its rejection.

In an effort to improve pilot sightlines, the F.B.24E featured a raised fuselage aligned with the upper wing's level, allowing the pilot’s head to protrude through the gap between the two wing spars.

The final iteration was the F.B.24G, which maintained a similar configuration to the F.B.24E but was larger and powered by a 375 hp (280 kW) Lorraine-Dietrich V12 engine. This sole example was constructed by Darracq in France and did not take flight until after hostilities had ceased.

Variants

F.B.24A

Initial prototype equipped with a 150 hp (112 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8 engine.

F.B.24B

Second prototype model.

F.B.24C

Powered by a 275 hp (205 kW) Lorraine-Dietrich 8Bd engine.

F.B.24D

Utilized a 200 hp (149 kW) Hispano-Suiza engine.

F.B.24E

Featured an elevated fuselage design to enhance pilot visibility, powered by either a 200 hp Hispano-Suiza or a Wolseley Viper engine.

F.B.24G

A larger fighter variant driven by a 375 hp (280 kW) Lorraine-Dietrich V-12 engine. A single unit was constructed postwar by Darracq in France.

References

• Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1.
• Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914–18. London: Putnam, 1957.
• Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Volume Three Fighters. London: Macdonald, 1969. ISBN 0-356-01490-8.
• Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.
• ""Milestones": The Vickers Machines". Flight, 12 June 1919. pp. 760–769.