The British BE2 Aircraft of World War 1
The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine tractor two-seat biplane designed and developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory.
Most production aircraft were constructed under contract by various private companies, both established aircraft manufacturers and firms that had not previously built aircraft.
Around 3,500 were manufactured in all.
Early versions of the B.E.2 entered squadron service with the Royal Flying Corps in 1912; the type continued to serve throughout the First World War.
It was initially used as a front-line reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber; modified as a single-seater it proved effective as a night fighter, destroying several German airships.
By late 1915, the B.E.2 was proving inadequate in defending itself against German fighters such as the then-new Fokker Eindecker, leading to increased losses during the period known as the Fokker Scourge.
Although by now obsolete, it had to remain in front-line service while suitable replacements were designed, tested, and brought into service.
Following its belated withdrawal from operations, the type served in various second-line capacities, seeing us as a trainer and communications aircraft, as well as performing anti-submarine coastal patrol duties.
The B.E.2 has always been a subject of controversy, both at the time and in the later historical assessment. From the B.E.2c variant on it had been carefully adapted to be “inherently stable”, this feature was considered helpful in its artillery observation and aerial photography duties: most of which were assigned to the pilot, who was able to fly without constant attention to his flight controls.
In spite of a tendency to swing on take-off and a reputation for spinning, the type had a relatively low accident rate.
The stability of the type was however achieved at the expense of heavy controls, making rapid maneuvering difficult.
The observer, often not carried because of the B.E.’s poor payload, occupied the front seat, where he had a limited field of fire for his gun.
