| The last aircraft type to emerge from the Royal Aircraft
Factory at Farnborough, before its change of name in
June 1918 to Royal Aircraft Establishment, the A.E.3
was itself an extrapolation from the N.E.1.
Designated as an "Armoured Experimental" type, the
A.E.1 was intended as a specialised ground-attack fighter, for which purpose it was to mount a pair of
7.7mm Lewis guns in the nose, with a
limited degree of movement in azimuth and depression.
A third Lewis was to be pillar-mounted in the
front, observer's, cockpit for self-defence. Like the
N.E.1, the A.E.3 was a large three-bay equi-span
biplane, differing principally in the construction and
shape of the nacelle, which was armoured with steel
plate and provided stowage for 32 ammunition drums.
Intended to be powered by the 200hp Hispano engine
as used in the N.E.1, the A.E.3 prototype emerged at the
end of March 1918 with a 200hp Sunbeam Arab, whilst
the second, eight weeks later, had a 230hp Bentley
B.R.2 rotary. Flight testing of the latter began on 4 June,
and larger ailerons and rudders were fitted before this
A.E.3 went to France for service trials, which aroused
little enthusiasm. The third aircraft, also completed in
June 1918, had an Arab engine like the first and in this
form the A.E.3 was named the Ram I, whilst the B.R.2
version became the Ram II. A proposed derivative, the
Ram III, was not built and no production ensued, other,
better, types having become available .
 | A three-view drawing of A.E.3 Ram II (1278 x 830) |
ENGINE | 1 x Hispano engine, 200hp |
DIMENSIONS |
Wingspan | 14.59 m | 48 ft 10 in |
Length | 8.44 m | 28 ft 8 in |
Height | 3.05 m | 10 ft 0 in |
Wing area | 52.02 m2 | 559.94 sq ft |
PERFORMANCE |
Max. speed | 153 km/h | 95 mph |
wanhua, 20.06.2011 13:23 A proposed derivative, the Ram III, was not built and no production ensued, other, better, types having become available . reply | Chris, e-mail, 14.11.2008 08:20 Does any one know why this aircraft was given a name (Ram), but none of the others were? Thanks reply |
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