The SE5 was designed by H P Folland of the Royal Aircraft Factory, becoming the most celebrated aeroplane to emerge from those workshops. A total of 5, 205 were built, which included a number of two-seat trainers.
Designed around a Hispano-Suiza V8 engine, the aircraft was more stable than its rotary contemporaries - giving a relatively stable, easy to fly mount for some of the more sketchily trained pilots of the day.
After the 50th machine, criticisms over the high seating position, extra-large windscreen, weakness of the original steel tube undercarriage legs and certain aspects of the basic handling were addressed, as well as producing a more powerful version of the engine - giving it the re-designation of SE5a.
Unfortunately, expected supplies of the French engine were seriously delayed and initially proved unreliable, and a replacement direct drive version built under licence by Wolseley was plagues with teething troubles. Consequently, the SE5a entered service with the Royal Flying Corps in June 1917 - but with the problems gradually resolved, the aeroplane became one of the most popular and successful fighters of the First World War.
Shuttleworth's SE5a was built under licence by Wolseley Motors and issued to 84 squadron in France in November 1918. It was in action on 10th November 1918, then piloted by Major C E M Pickthorn MC, the squadron commander, when he successfully destroyed a Fokker DVII in the vicinity of Chimay, Belgium. This means the Collection's SE5a is the last original airworthy WW1 aeroplane with a confirmed victory.
Post-war, it saw action with Major J C Savage with his skywriting business, and used between 1924-1928, when it was put into store.
It was recovered from storage in the roof of the Armstrong Whitworth flight shed at Baginton in 1955 and restored for The Collection by staff and apprentices at RAE Farnborough, flying again in 1959. First powered by a Hispano Suiza, it was rebuilt with a 200hp Wolseley Viper after the engine sheared in flight in 1975.
The Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire, England is home to a vast array of vintage aircraft, vehicles, as well as agricultural machinery. The Collection hosts a series of flying days from May to October each year, and is open to the public on non-flying days as well.
General admission and event tickets can be purchased at www.shuttlewor....
27 авг 2024
