Canadian Warplanes (5d) Ontario, Ottawa, Canada Aviation & Space Museum: Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c

Canada Aviation and Space Museum,

Musée de l'Aviation et de l'Espace du Canada,

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2d ‍

The Canada Aviation and Space Museum is located at 11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, Ontario.

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document every historical Warplane preserved in Canada.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website.  Photos are by the author unless otherwise credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, correctons or amendments to this list of Warplanes in Canada would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

(RCAF Photo)

The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 is a British single-engine tractor two-seat biplane, designed and developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory. Most of the roughly 3,500 built were constructed under contract by private companies, including established aircraft manufacturers and firms new to aircraft construction.Early versions entered squadron service with the Royal Flying Corps in 1912 and the type served throughout the First World War. Initially used as a reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber, as a single-seat night fighter the type destroyed six German airships between September and December 1916.

By late 1915, the B.E.2 was proving to be vulnerable to the recently introduced German Fokker Eindecker fighters, 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 replacement types were brought into service. Following its belated withdrawal from combat, the B.E. continued to serve in training, communications, and coastal anti-submarine patrol roles. The B.E.2 became the subject of controversy. From the B.E.2c variant onward, it had been developed to be inherently stable, which was helpful for artillery observation and aerial photography duties. However this stability was achieved at the expense of manoeuvrability; moreover the observer, in the front seat ahead of the pilot, had a limited field of fire for his gun.

The B.E.2d was a dual control version of the "c" variant and was provided with full controls in the front cockpit as well as in the rear. This meant that there was no room for the fuel tank under the observer's seat; instead a centre section gravity tank was fitted. To ensure adequate endurance this tank was large, adding drag that reduced performance, particularly in the climb. Most B.E.2ds were used as trainers, where their dual controls and five-hour endurance were of benefit. (Wikipedia)

(AHunt Photo)

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2d in the Canada Aviation Museum, Ottawa, Ontario.

(Author Photo)

Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2d (Serial No. 5878), was thought to be B.E.2c (Serial No. 4112), B&C 1042, N5878.

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