World War 1 Plane
 

Hello All

Can anybody tell me which aircraft is in the photo

Photo was recently unearthed and that handsome chap is a relative

Photo was taken as part of Royal Flying Corps and around WW1 era

Any information would be helpful

Thanks in anticipation
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....346ac851ff.jpg

I think it could be an Avro 500, but I am not absolutely certain. Someone with better knowledge will probably along soon.

512

Thanks very much

I am also not certain but I believe it to be a French Coudron, the fuselage appears to be sitting above the wing on short struts, the lower wing is short with just a small amount of the angled interplane strut visible, the scalloped trailing edge is correct but the cowling is not like any I can find on a Coudron and it might even be a twin engine version.

Richard

Howard Leigh’s Planes of the Great War has an illustration with this cowling, engine mounting and engine.
I think it is a Nieuport two seater. Made by Soc. Anonyme des Etablissements Nieuport.
The text says a hole was left in the top wing so that the passenger could stand up and fire over the air screw. This procedure caused the machine to lose height, as it was underpowered. For this reason it did not long remain in service. This two seater was the forerunner of all the successful Nieuport biplanes
Nick.

The engine is a 7 cylinder rotary, most probably a Gnome. My guess is it may be an early Sopwith Tabloid circa 1913/1914.
On second thought, the lower wing fuselage don't look right for a Tabloid.

I think I'd go with Avro 500 as well..possibly a Duigan varient if there's any Australian connection.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_5...e:Avro_500.jpg


https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...-404-219742755

Credits to Wikipedia & Worth Point

I agree - Gnome-powered Avro 500.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....65ecdcf867.jpg

Avro 500

The engine cowling side plating of the first picture is a bit waving, not the straight line as in the second picture.. But the trailing edge of the Avro 500 is straight, while the unknown aircraft is scalloped. Also, the lower wing seems to be below the fuselage, while the Avro 500 is attached to the fuselage. So the mystery remains, I think.

The RAF BE-3, BE-4 and BE-7 look very similar in design, wonder if it is one of those - I can't see a pic that shows the front cowling on the 4 or 7.

washoutt - if you haven't already, take a look at the second link I posted above. Although it seems the wing is attached to the fuselage side, I think there may also be a gap under the front fuselage. The ports behind the propeller look identical.

In case you don't know, this photo is the standard format taken for flyers obtaining their Royal Aero Club 'ticket' and so if you don't have it for this airman, there may be more info to be had, such as examining officer, date etc. TOM Sopwith himself was an examiner for the RAeC.

Avro 500 , and a real rarity from the earliest days of flight.

The scalloped trailing edge (often indicative of a wire , not wood or steel tube member) is not typical Avro.
What is the member coming down to the lower left corner of the image? Possibly going to a skid? If so , not part of a central skid assembly as on the Avro.
It appears ( although it might be an illusion) that there is an under fuselage cabane down to the lower wing. Again, if so, not Avro 500.
Adding these features together they would all correspond to a possible Caudron G. II trainer variant, of which one at least went to the RNAS.

I agree with "washout". Whilst the engine installation is similar to the Avro 500 there is something odd about the lower wing. It would appear to pass below the fuselage. If one looks behind the gentleman's left lower arm there appears to be a gap between the fuselage and wing. similar to the B.E.4 wing installation. However I believe that whilst the B.E.4 had a 80 h.p. Gnome it had a four-bladed prop. .

Thank you Haraka, as I said in post #4 its a Caudron type G, https://picryl.com/media/caudron-biplane .

Richard

Are you sure? I can't find any pictures showing a Caudron with the Avro's cowling

PDR

Speaking from total guesswork, I'll buy the Caudron. To the left of the pilot's arm there is a strut angling left, which seems to me likely to be the support for the wing skid on the Caudron.

You are right PDR I also havn't found a picture either, I am going by the gap between the fuselage and lower wing, the scalloped trailing edge, the just visible 45' strut at the far left of the picture that went from the short lower wing tip to the longer upper wing tip, and the bit of strut that is mostly obscured by the persons right hand/arm, it went out to the forward tip of the landing skid.
The cowling is in a style fitted to several aircraft types using rotary engines, the Sopwith Tabloid being one and some Caudrons were build in the UK with Gnomes so a cowl of that style would be an option.

Richard

Similar thread though can't see picture , may be some info of use
How can I get some help identifying an aircraft? [Archive] - The Aerodrome Forum