303:
28:
219:(RFC) on 13 May 1912. The B.E.4, also initially powered by a 50 hp Gnome, flew on 24 June that year, and was handed over to the RFC on 8 August. It was re-engined with a 70 hp Gnome in September 1912. At least two, and possibly three more similar aircraft powered by 50 hp Gnomes were built in late 1912–early 1913 by private contractors.
272:
in
January 1913, although wrecked in a crash in February that year. The B.E.7 was also taken on charge by the Central Flying School, serving until November 1913, at which time its engine bearers were found to be damaged by the heat of its exhaust fumes.
199:
Two aircraft were built in early 1912, numbered B.E.3 and B.E.4, but as at the time the Royal
Aircraft Factory was forbidden from building aircraft, the two aircraft were officially rebuilds of a Paulhan biplane and a
222:
Kenworthy modified the design to allow fitting of a more powerful (140 hp (104 kW)) two-row Gnome engine, which was built as the B.E.7, flying for the first time on 28 February 1913.
601:
252:, with the B.E.3, nicknamed "Goldfish", being used for various trials, including air-to-ground signalling with both radio and lights. Two more aircraft (serial numbers
1036:
215:
at the controls. Testing was sufficiently successful for de
Havilland to take several passengers up in the B.E.3 later that day, and the aircraft was delivered to the
196:, while the fuselage, which was wider than that of the B.E.1 and 2 to accommodate the rotary engine, was mounted between but clear of the upper and lower wings.
594:
1031:
587:
238:
1041:
287:, killing its crew of two. To avoid similar failures, the remaining aircraft were fitted with modified tails based on that fitted to the
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134:
68:
261:
212:
315:
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216:
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27:
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291:, this allowing the Central Flying School aircraft to remain in use until the summer of 1914.
43:
182:
579:
280:
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138:
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powered B.E.1 and B.E.2. Detailed design of the new aircraft was the responsibility of
308:
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58:
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127:
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35:
Royal
Aircraft Factory B.E.4 № 417 at the Central Flying School, Upavon, 1913
174:
149:
were virtually identical aircraft that differed only in the engine fitted.
185:
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130:
406:
At the time this was a form of serial number, not a type designation.
157:
In
December 1911, the Royal Aircraft Factory started work of a new
207:
First to fly was the B.E.3, powered by a 50 hp (37 kW)
583:
225:
The final development of the rotary engined B.E. types was the
188:
with wings similar to those of the B.E.2, but more heavily
204:
respectively, but the only parts reused were the engines.
283:
on 11 March 1914 when its rudder failed, possibly due to
173:
to allow comparison with the water-cooled and air-cooled
542:
The
Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing)
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1037:1910s British military trainer aircraft
418:
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264:in December 1912, while serial number
17:
7:
355:39 ft 6 in (12.04 m)
237:The B.E.3 and B.E.4, allocated the
349:27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)
192:. Lateral control was by means of
14:
301:
248:became part of the inventory of
26:
1032:Royal Aircraft Factory aircraft
611:Royal Aircraft Factory (R.A.F.)
181:, who drew up plans for a two-
1:
1042:Aircraft first flown in 1912
386:Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8
381:Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2
124:Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3
837:Reconnaissance Experimental
211:engine, on 3 May 1912 with
1058:
557:The Royal Aircraft Factory
329:The Royal Aircraft Factory
365:, 50 hp (37 kW)
161:of similar layout to its
133:developed by the British
34:
25:
20:
559:. London: Putnam, 1990.
544:. London: Putnam, 1982.
500:Bruce 1982, pp. 371–372.
446:Bruce 1982, pp. 370–371.
509:Hare 1990, pp. 168–169.
467:Hare 1990, pp. 167–168.
334:General characteristics
322:Specifications (B.E.3)
260:were delivered to the
153:Design and development
135:Royal Aircraft Factory
69:Royal Aircraft Factory
755:Fighting Experimental
619:Armoured Experimental
262:Central Flying School
213:Geoffrey de Havilland
126:was a single-engined
737:Coastal Experimental
645:Blériot Experimental
887:Santos Experimental
753:Farman Experimental
518:Bruce 1982, p. 374.
479:Bruce 1982, p. 373.
428:Bruce 1982, p. 370.
375:Related development
233:Operational history
169:, but powered by a
942:Tatin Experimental
889:Scout Experimental
821:Night Experimental
527:Hare 1990, p. 167.
491:Hare 1990, p. 171.
458:Hare 1990, p. 165.
437:Hare 1990, p. 164.
316:Royal Flying Corps
250:No. 3 Squadron RFC
229:types of 1914/15.
217:Royal Flying Corps
105:Royal Flying Corps
101:Primary user
21:B.E.3/B.E.4/B.E.7
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137:prior to the
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93:Introduction
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85:First flight
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555:Hare, Paul.
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194:wing warping
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112:Number built
15:
540:Bruce J.M.
359:Powerplant:
279:crashed on
209:Gnome Omega
116:At least 5
88:3 May 1912
1026:Categories
1011:Harry Tate
534:References
361:1 × Gnome
994:Nicknames
970:Baby/Beta
414:Citations
353:Wingspan:
327:Data from
295:Operators
190:staggered
175:V8 engine
75:Designer
1006:Goldfish
958:Airships
613:aircraft
370:See also
227:B.E.8/8a
858:H.R.E.3
853:H.R.E.2
347:Length:
289:H.R.E.2
186:biplane
159:biplane
131:biplane
812:F.E.12
807:F.E.11
802:F.E.10
707:B.E.12
702:B.E.11
697:B.E.10
563:
548:
306:
141:. The
980:Delta
975:Gamma
949:T.E.1
933:S.E.7
928:S.E.6
923:S.E.5
911:S.E.4
906:S.E.3
901:S.E.2
896:S.E.1
878:R.E.9
873:R.E.8
868:R.E.7
863:R.E.5
849:R.E.2
844:R.E.1
828:N.E.1
797:F.E.9
792:F.E.8
787:F.E.7
782:F.E.6
777:F.E.4
772:F.E.3
767:F.E.2
762:F.E.1
744:C.E.1
728:B.S.2
723:B.S.1
692:B.E.9
687:B.E.8
682:B.E.7
677:B.E.6
672:B.E.5
667:B.E.4
662:B.E.3
657:B.E.2
652:B.E.1
636:A.E.3
631:A.E.2
626:A.E.1
394:Notes
341:Crew:
167:B.E.2
163:B.E.1
147:B.E.7
143:B.E.4
96:1912
40:Role
561:ISBN
546:ISBN
256:and
244:and
165:and
145:and
122:The
985:Eta
277:204
266:303
258:417
254:416
246:204
242:203
183:bay
1028::
484:^
472:^
451:^
421:^
916:a
851:/
603:e
596:t
589:v
567:.
552:.
343:2
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