Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Two-seat reconnaissance aircraft

Power Plant:

One 119 kw (160 hp) Beardmore six-cylinder in-line liquid-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

The Armstrong Whitworth FK.8 was a two-seat reconnaissance and bombing aircraft which, first flown in May 1916, was designed to perform the same function as the Royal Aircraft Factory’s RE.8. A development of the FK.3, the FK.8 was built in some numbers, approximately 1,500 aircraft being completed. By late 1917 production was at a rate of 80 aircraft completed each month from the Armstrong Whitworth & Co plant at Gosforth, and the Angus Sanderson & Co plant, both at Newcastle on Tyne.

Power plants fitted to the series included the 90 kw (120 hp) and 119 kw (160 hp) Beardmore, the 112 kw (150 hp) RAF 4a, the 149 kw (200 hp) RAF 4d, and the 112 kw (150 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich.

Production aircraft commenced to reach RAF Squadrons late in 1916, No 35 Squadron commencing to use its aircraft in France in January 1917. Five squadrons used the type, being Nos 2, 8, 10, 35 and 82 of the RAF from October 1918 in the United Kingdom; and Nos 17, 47 and 142 overseas. Two Victoria Crosses (VC) were won by FK.8 pilots, the first on 27 March 1918 by Second-Lieutenant A McLeod of No 2 Squadron RAF in B5773; and the second by Captain F M F West of No 8 Squadron, RAF on 10 August 1918.

After World War I surplus aircraft were auctioned at Hendon in Greater London and 11 are known to have been placed on the British Civil Aircraft Register, examples being used for delivering newspapers and joyriding flights. One went to a Swedish explorer Major Tryggve Gran who flew it to Denmark and on to Oslo in Norway. Two are believed to have been exported to Argentina. Three found their way to Australia and saw service with Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service (Qantas).

The first was registered on 28 June 1921 to Simpson & Tregilles Aircraft and Transport Co of Perth, WA as G-AUDE (c/n 69 – ex H4231 – later VH-UDE). On 5 September 1922 it was sold to Qantas at Longreach, QLD and made the inaugural flight for Qantas from Charleville to Longreach on 2 November 1921 flown by P J McGuinness and W A Baird with 166 articles of mail on board. The second leg was flown by Hudson Fysh from Longreach to Cloncurry the following day with 87 years old Alexander Kennedy in the rear seat, he being the company’s first passenger. VH-UDE, as it later became, was wrecked at Blackall, QLD on 13 September 1923 in a forced landing and was burnt as “useless” on 13 March 1924.

The FK.8 could not maintain altitude in tropical conditions when fully loaded and frequent forced landings occurred when engines boiled. Larger radiators and header water tanks to prevent the escape of steam when the cooling water boiled were fitted but engine lives were short, and even the Beardmore engine from the retired Avro 547 Triplane G-AUCR was pressed into service.

G-AUCF (ex H4561 – later VH-UCF) was the second aircraft placed in service. It was registered on 28 June 1921 to Commercial Aviation Co, Rochester, VIC (proprietors A A Kennedy and H C ‘Horrie’ Miller) and was sold to Qantas on 5 September 1922. It crashed on take-off at Jericho, QLD on 25 February 1923.

G-AUCS (later VH-UCS) was registered to Aviation Ltd of Glenroy, VIC on 28 June 1921. Ownership was transferred to William Adams & Co Ltd of Melbourne, VIC on 4 April 1922. It was sold to Qantas on 1 September 1923. It remained in service until de Havilland DH.9Cs were delivered. On 30 August 1924 the Certificate of Registration lapsed, it was dismantled at Longreach and it was struck off the register officially on 19 December 1924.

In later times the Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach, QLD, as it expanded, has contracted to have replicas built of a number of early aircraft for display in its Museum at Longreach, and these have included a de Havilland DH.50, de Havilland DH.61, RAF BE.2e, and an Armstrong Whitworth FK.8.