Vickers FB 24 series

[Komeck]

Vickers F.B.24 - fighter

vickers | vickers vampire | 1919 | 0764 | Flight Archive

was wondering if anyone had any other information regarding the development of this plane.

the 2 pics and info in the above link shows a bit of difference in the design over it evolution and redesign.

I assume the G series was not recorded because it was so poor?

What really have attracted me to this plane is if you look at the G series the lower wing goes under the belly of the plane. Quite unique.

The first link states that flight tests and modifications of the G series were in France. So was this a French air force modification? or RAF who were in France?

Were there any other combat/front lines or flight tests of the FB 24? The plane was first in production in December of 1916 (second link for reference) Just wondering why they kept pushing it along if they were always unsatisfied with it.

[Kirk R. Lowry]

Bonjour Komeck!

Yes, the Vickers F.B.24 was an interesting type. Originally conceived in December, 1916, as a fighting and reconnaissance type to be powered by the Hart, 150 h.p., radial engine. The engine proved unsatisfactory and was never incorporated into the aircraft. Efforts were made to find a substitute, but, British authorities would not release any of the then available and desired engines; Beardmore-Halford-Pullinger, Hispano-Suiza, Rolls Royce.

Eventually the 200 h.p. Hispano-Suiza was made available and after the necessary design modifications the F.B. 24 flew.

J.M. Bruce, in British Aeroplanes 1914-18, describes the aircraft thusly - "The completed aircraft was a well-proportioned two-bay biplane with wings of unequal span and chord. The upper wing, typical of Vickers practice, was made in two halves which met at the apex of a trestle-shaped cabane. The pilot sat directly under the upper wing and had no upwards view apart from what was provided by two very inadequate cut-outs above his head. The observer sat a short way farther aft."

Performance was thought adequate, but, improved upon by the installation of the 275 h.p. Lorraine-Dietrich engine and with modification to the fin was designated as the F.B.24C. Two versions were built, one with a frontal radiator, one with two side radiators. The abysmal upward view for the pilot necessitated a major design revision however.

The F.B.24E was designed and built to deal with the issue of pilot concerns. The fuselage met the upper wing and the pilot sat between spars with a plain view upward. A ventral radiator was placed into the resultant gap between the lower wing and the fuselage.

A further design, known as the F.B.24G, utilized the 375 h.p. Lorraine-Dietrich 13 engine and featured wings of equal span.

As well as the text referred to by Bruce, The British Fighter Since 1912 by Peter Lewis offers a detailed description of the development of the various versions of the aircraft.

As for the questions that you pose Komeck -

Performance figures would seem to be lacking for the F.B.24G, but, the version with the 275 h.p. Lorraine-Dietrich engine was capable of 129.5 m.p.h. at 10,000 feet and had a ceiling of 23,000 ft and could climb at a rate that compared favourably with many versions of the Bristol F.2b.

According to French Aircraft of the First World War by James J. Davilla and Arthur M. Soltan the fitting of the 375 h.p. Lorraine-Dietrich to the F.B.24 was undertaken by S.A. Darracq ... what affiliation existed between Vickers and Darracq does not seem to be known. Apparently the resultant F.B.24G was entered as a contender for the service with the French air service in the C2 category of two place fighting aircraft, but, the type did not actually fly until after the cessation of hostilities which precluded the need ...

The Vickers type was never tested in service as none built were actually accepted by British, or French, forces. That noted the aircraft may well have been seen as a promising design worthy of development, but, one for which there was no actual need, after all, performance figures are not the only way to judge an aircraft and the Bristol F.2 was a superlative machine.

Salut!
Kirk

[Komeck]

Thanks for the reply and time Kirk