Felixstowe F.2A

From Wings of Linen
Felixstowe F.2A
Role Flying Boat
Manufacturer Felixstowe
Designer John C. Porte
Introduction late 1917 [1][2]
Primary user U.K. (RNAS)
Number built 100-150[1] to 170[3] [note 1]
Wingspan 29.1 m (95 ft 7.5 in) [4][5][2]
Engine 2×345hp Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII V-12s
Armament 1-2×flexible nose Lewis
1-2×flexible rear Lewis
1×Lewis each waist position
2×100 kg (230 lb) bombs
Max Speed 153 km/h (95 mph) [1][6][7][4][5][2]
Climb 610 m (2,000 ft) in 3:50[1][2]-4:00[4]
2,000 m (6,500 ft) in 16:40[1]
3,000 m (10,000 ft) in 39:30[1][4]
Service Ceiling 2,900 m (9,600 ft) [1][6][7][4][5][2]
Endurance 6:00 [1][6][7][5][2]

John C. Porte had gained experience with modifying Curtiss H-4 flying boats for improved performance as the Felixstowe F.1. He had also designed the large three-engine Porte Baby. When he received a Curtiss H-12 "Large America", he began work on improving that impressive type, starting by replacing the H-12's inadequate 160hp Curtiss engines with 250hp Rolls-Royce Eagles. Lessons learned in improving the hydrodynamics of the F.1 were applied to the new plane and the hull was strengthened.

The result was the Felixstowe F.2 or Porte II. In production, the engines were replaced with more powerful Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines and minor changes were made, and the plane was designated the Felixstowe F.2A. When it appeared in late 1917, it was clear this was a flying boat of outstanding qualities both on the water and in the air. The demand for the Eagle engines was high, and though 161 F.2As had been ordered by March 1918, only ten were in service. In May, an F.2A from Killingholme destroyed Zeppelin L.62.

The sturdiness of F.2s was attested by a fight in June 1918 when three F.2As took on fourteen enemy seaplanes, shooting down six while losing only one to a broken petrol pipe.

Beginning in September 1918, F.2As were built without the enclosed pilots' cabin, which improved both sight lines and speed. Sometimes this variant was known as the Felixstowe F.2B. [1]

For more information, see Wikipedia:Felixstowe F.2.

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Unofficial Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb Points
late17-end XC * 29 7 [8] 7 [8] 216

Plane and Crew Cards

Miniatures and Models

1:100 Scale

1:144 Scale

1:350 Scale

1:600 Scale

1:700 Scale

References

Notes
  1. Counts are inprecise; some were delivered as Felixstowe F.3's.[1]
Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Bruce, p.239.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Argus Vol. 3, p.22.
  3. Angelucci, p.97.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Nowarra, pp.200-201.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Angelucci, p.89.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Munson'71, p.25.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Munson'76, p.93.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Ares Climb Rates and Maximum Altitude Table, version 1.2, Oct 2021
Bibliography
  • Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  • Argus Books, Airplane Archive: Aircraft of World War One, Volume 3. Great Britain: Argus Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85242-998-3
  • J.M. Bruce. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. Great Britain: Funk & Wagnalls, 1957, 1969. ISBN 0370000382
  • Kenneth Munson, Bombers: Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft, 1914-1919. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1968, Blandford Press Ltd. ISBN 978-0753721711
  • Kenneth Munson, Flying Boats and Seaplanes since 1910. New York: The MacMillan Company, Blandford Press Ltd., 1971.
  • Heinz J. Nowarra, Bruce Robertson, and Peter G. Cooksley. Marine Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, Herts, England: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1966. ISBN 0900435070