Beautiful Planes of World War I

Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5

The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 has the distinction of being perhaps the fastest World War I aircraft, offering stable, nimble performance at speed. It’s no wonder that this bird is often described as “the Spitfire of World War One”. At the heart of this performance lay a formidable engine, the Hispano-Suiza 8.

Which isn’t to say there weren’t bumps along the way. Initial test flights proved disastrous. A test pilot was killed in one case. However, improved wing design fixed these issues and the S.E.5 quickly proved as capable in a close dogfight as the renowned Sopwith Camel. A stunning top speed of 138 miles per hour and an impressive range of 300 miles meant that the S.E.5 outperformed almost everything in the sky. Combined with formidable armament including a Vickers machine gun, a Lewis gun on the upper wing, and potentially four 25 pound Cooper bombs when needed, and it’s no wonder that this aircraft is as well remembered as it is.