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Vickers FB.5 Gunbus
Vickers · Fighter · UK · Pioneer Age (pre-1919)
The Vickers F.B.5 was a British two-seat pusher military biplane of the First World War. Armed with a single .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun operated by the observer in the front of the nacelle, it was the first aircraft purpose-built for air-to-air combat to see service, making it the world's first operational fighter aircraft.
Specifications
- Category
- Fixed Wing
- Sub-Category
- Fighter
- Domain
- Defence
- Era
- Pioneer Age (pre-1919)
- Country
- UK
- Manufacturer
- Vickers
- Operator
- UK military
- Primary Role
- Fighter
- Status
- Retired
- Service Entry
- 1914
- Produced
- 224
- Engine
- Gnome Monosoupape
- Thrust / Power
- 100 hp
- Launch
- Ground
- Length (ft)
- 27.2
- Wingspan (ft)
- 36.6
- Empty Weight (lb)
- 1220
- MTOW (lb)
- 2050
- Endurance (hr)
- 4.5
- Service Ceiling (ft)
- 9000
- Range (mi)
- 250
- Max Speed (mph)
- 70
- Armament
- 1x .303 Lewis