| Conceived as a replacement for the F.E.2b in the
fighter-reconnaissance role, the F.E.9 was of similar
pusher configuration and therefore already obsolescent
by the time it appeared in 1917. Emphasis was
placed in the design upon providing the gunner with a
good field of fire and the pilot a good all-round view. To
this end, the nacelle was located close beneath the
upper wing and was carried on struts above the
shorter-span lower wing. The large overhang of the
upper wing brought the F.E.9 almost into the sesquiplane
category, and called for bracing wires from triangular
kingposts above the interplane struts of the
single-bay cellule. A cruciform tail unit was carried on
four slender booms, as on the F.E.2, and the Vee-strutted
undercarriage incorporated oleo legs. Construction
was largely of wood, but pairs of steel tube N-struts
linked the nacelle to the upper and lower wings. Power
was provided by a 200hp Hispano-Suiza eight-cylinder
V-type water-cooled engine and the planned armament
comprised two 7.7mm Lewis guns on pillar
mounts, ahead of and behind the front cockpit, and
both fired by the observer - the latter rearwards over
the pilot's head and the top wing. Installation of a third
gun, on the side of the fuselage for use by the pilot, was
planned. Authority was given by the War Office for construction
of three prototypes and a production batch of
24 in October 1916, and testing began in April 1917. Handling and performance of the prototypes were disappointing,
however, and production was cancelled, to
allow the Hispano engines to be used in more worthwhile
types. Testing of the prototypes continued, in the
course of which two-bay wings were tried on the
second aircraft, which was also flown for a time by No
78 Home Defence Squadron, RFC.
 | A three-view drawing (1280 x 828) |
WEIGHTS |
Take-off weight | 1125 kg | 2480 lb |
DIMENSIONS |
Wingspan | 12.22 m | 40 ft 1 in |
Length | 8.61 m | 28 ft 3 in |
Height | 2.97 m | 10 ft 9 in |
Wing area | 33.91 m2 | 365.00 sq ft |
PERFORMANCE |
Max. speed | 169 km/h | 105 mph |
Ceiling | 4725 m | 15500 ft |
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