List of aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps

This is a list of aircraft used by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) from 13 April 1912, when it was formed from the Air Battalion Royal Engineers, until 1 April 1918 when it was merged with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) to form the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RFC operated in parallel with the RNAS, whose aircraft are listed at List of aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service. For a list of Royal Air Force aircraft see List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force.

Operational aeroplanes

Operational aeroplanes
Aircraft	First flight	Introduced to RFC service
Airco DH.1^[1]	January 1915	1915
Airco DH.2^[2]	July 1915	1915
Airco DH.4^[3]	August 1916	January 1917
Airco DH.5^[4]	August 1916	May 1917
Airco DH.6^[5]	1916	?
Airco DH.9^[6]	July 1917	November 1917
Airco DH.9A^[7]	March 1918	Introduced to the RAF in 1918
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.2^[8]	1915	?
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3^[9]	1915	?
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8^[10]	May 1916	June 1916
Avro Type E/Es/500^[11]	3 March 1912	1912
Avro 504^[12]	18 September 1913	1913
Blériot XI^[13]	23 January 1909	1912
Blériot XII^[14]	21 May 1909	Operated by the Balloon School, not the RFC
Blériot XXI^[15]	February 1911	?
Blériot Parasol Monoplane^[16]	23 January 1909	?
Breguet Type III^[17]	1910	?
Bristol Boxkite^[18]	30 July 1910	1911 (for the Air Battalion)
Bristol-Coanda Monoplane^[19]	1912	?
Bristol F.2A and F.2B Fighter^[20]^[21]	9 September 1916	Late 1916
Bristol Scout^[22]	23 February 1914	1914
Bristol M.1^[23]	14 July 1916	1917
Caudron G.III^[24]	Late 1913	?

Curtiss JN-3^[25]
Curtiss JN-4A^[26]
Curtiss JN-4 (Canadian) ^{[note 1]}^[27]
Deperdussin monoplane^[28]
Farman HF.20^[29]
Farman HF.27^[30]
Farman MF.7 Longhorn^[31]
Farman MF.11 Shorthorn^[32]
FBA Type B^[33]
Grahame-White Type XV^[34]
Martinsyde S.1^[35]
Martinsyde G.100 & 102^[36]
Morane-Saulnier G^[37]
Morane-Saulnier H^[37]
Morane-Saulnier BB^[38]
Morane-Saulnier I^[39]
Morane-Saulnier L^[40]
Morane-Saulnier LA^[41]
Morane-Saulnier N^[42]
Morane-Saulnier V^[39]
Morane-Saulnier P^[43]
Nieuport II.N^[44]
Nieuport IV.G^[45]
Nieuport 12^[46]
Nieuport 16^[47]
Nieuport 17 & 23^[48]
Nieuport 20^[49]
Nieuport 23bis^[50]
Nieuport 24 & 24bis^[51]
Nieuport 27^[52]
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.1^[53]
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2^[54]
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3 & 4^[55]
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.7^[56]
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.8 & 8a^[57]
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12^[58]
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2^[59]
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8^[60]
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.1^[61]
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.5^[62]
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.7^[63]
Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8^[64]
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.2^[65]
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.4a^[66]
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 & 5a^[67]
Short School Biplane (S.43 & 44)^[68]
Short S.62^[69]
Short Type 184
Short Type 827^[70]
Short Bomber^[71]
Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter^[72]
Sopwith 3-Seater
Sopwith 80 hp Biplane^[73]
Sopwith Camel^[74]
Sopwith Dolphin^[75]
Sopwith Pup^[76]
Sopwith Salamander^[77]
Sopwith Snipe^[78]
Sopwith Tabloid^[79]
SPAD S.VII^[80]
SPAD S.XIII^[81]
Vickers Boxkite (Vickers-Farman)^[82]
Vickers E.S.1^[83]
Vickers F.B. 'Gun Carrier'/'Fighting Biplanes'^[84]
Vickers F.B.5^[85]
Vickers F.B.9^[86]
Vickers F.B.12^[87]
Vickers F.B.14^[88]
Vickers F.B.19^[89]
Voisin III & V^[90]

Airships

The airship service was disbanded 1 January 1914 and all airships transferred to the RNAS. See List of British airships

British Army Airship No.3/Baby/Beta/Beta II
No.2A – 1910–
Delta – 1912–1914
Epsilon I and Epsilon II –
Eta 1913–1914^[91]
Clément-Bayard II Zeta 1910–1910
Lebaudy Morning Post 1910–1911 ^[92]

Prototypes

References

Notes

^ Operated by the RFC Canada..
^ No serial assigned, donated aircraft probably not flown by the RFC.
^ Abandoned en route during delivery flight, no serial assigned.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ordered by the RFC but delivered to the Royal Air Force.
^ No serial assigned, previous model B out of service before 1912.

Citations

^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 38–40.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 41–46.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 49–61.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 61–66.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 66–71.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 72–78.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 78–83.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 90–93.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 93–99.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 100–105.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 110–112.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 112–120.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 128–132.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 133–135.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 135–137.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 138–141.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 142–147.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 148–151.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 153–156.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 169–174.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 174–180.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 161–167.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 180–184.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 191–194.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 201–204.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 209–211.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 211–215.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 215–220.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 229–234.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 234–238.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 238–241.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 241–247.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 247–249.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 259–261.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 272–276.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 276–280.
^ ^a ^b Bruce, 1982, pp. 285–289.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 303–306.
^ ^a ^b Bruce, 1982, pp. 301–303.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 289–292.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 292–296.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 296–303.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 306–312.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 318–319.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 315–319.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 320–325.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 326–328.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 328–333.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 323–325.
^ Knight, 2011, p.149
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 334–336.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 337–338.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 341–344.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 344–370.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 370–375.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 375–376.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 377–381.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 385–397.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 397–426.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 431–436.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 440–444.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 445–451.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 451–458.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 458–464.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 464–468.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 468–471.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 471–481.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 482–483.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 486–487.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 487–488.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 489–490.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 499–509.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 491–493.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 522–535.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 535–544.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 512–519.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 550–552.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 544–549.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 493–498.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 553–558.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 561–564.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 564–565.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 576–581.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 566–568.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 569–573.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 582–584.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 585–590.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 590–596.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 597–601.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 606–610.
^ D'Orcy's Airship Manual - Royal Aircraft Factory (formerly Army Balloon Factory), Farnborough Archived 6 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine
^ Ian, 2009, pp.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 35–37.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 46–49.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 100–101.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 106–108.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 106–109.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 120–122.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 123–128.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 151–153.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 156–160.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 168–169.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 185–189.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 189–191.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 194–196.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 196–198.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 198–200.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 204–220.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 221–223.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 223–226.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 249–251.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 254–256.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 256–258.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 258–259.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 252–253.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 261–268.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 269–270.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 271–272.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 280–285.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 312–314.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 338–341.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 381–385.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 426–430.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 436–440.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 484–485.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 509–512.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 519–523.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 559–560.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 574–576.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 602–605.
^ Bruce, 1982, pp. 614–616.

Bibliography

Bain, Gordon (1992). De Havilland: A Pictorial Tribute. London: AirLife. ISBN 1-85648-243-X.
Barnes, C. H. (1964). Bristol Aircraft Since 1910. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-00015-3.
Bruce, J. M. (1957). British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London: Putnam.
Bruce, J. M. (1982). The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-30084-X.
Davis, Mick (1999). Sopwith Aircraft. Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126217-5.
Driver, Hugh (1997). The Birth of Military Aviation: Britain 1903-1914. Woodbridge: The Boydel Press for the Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0-86193234-X.
Goodall, Michael H.; Albert Tagg (2000). British Aeroplanes Before the Great War. Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 0764312073.
Hare, Paul R. (1990). The Royal Aircraft Factory. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-843-7.
Castle, Ian (2009). British Airships 1905-30. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781472800664.
Jackson, A. J. (1965). Avro Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam Publishing. LCCN 65-17460.
Jackson, A. J. (1987). De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 (third ed.). London: Putnam Publishing. ISBN 0-85177-802-X.
Knight, Brian (2011). Nieuports in RNAS, RFC and RAF Service. London, UK: Cross & Cockade International. ISBN 978-0955573439.
Sanger, Ray (2002). Nieuport Aircraft of World War One. Wiltshire: Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1861264473.
Whale, George (2008). British Airships: Past Present and Future. Toronto, Canada: Bastian Books. p. 124. ISBN 0-554-30772-3.
Mowethorpe, Ces (1995). Battlebags British Airships of the First World War. Gloucestershire, UK: Alan Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-0989-7.

[27] Operated by the RFC Canada..

[94] No serial assigned, donated aircraft probably not flown by the RFC.

[105] Abandoned en route during delivery flight, no serial assigned.

[RAF-119] Ordered by the RFC but delivered to the Royal Air Force.

[136] No serial assigned, previous model B out of service before 1912.

[1] Bruce, 1982, pp. 38–40.

[2] Bruce, 1982, pp. 41–46.

[3] Bruce, 1982, pp. 49–61.

[4] Bruce, 1982, pp. 61–66.

[5] Bruce, 1982, pp. 66–71.

[6] Bruce, 1982, pp. 72–78.

[7] Bruce, 1982, pp. 78–83.

[8] Bruce, 1982, pp. 90–93.

[9] Bruce, 1982, pp. 93–99.

[10] Bruce, 1982, pp. 100–105.

[11] Bruce, 1982, pp. 110–112.

[12] Bruce, 1982, pp. 112–120.

[13] Bruce, 1982, pp. 128–132.

[14] Bruce, 1982, pp. 133–135.

[15] Bruce, 1982, pp. 135–137.

[16] Bruce, 1982, pp. 138–141.

[17] Bruce, 1982, pp. 142–147.

[18] Bruce, 1982, pp. 148–151.

[19] Bruce, 1982, pp. 153–156.

[20] Bruce, 1982, pp. 169–174.

[21] Bruce, 1982, pp. 174–180.

[22] Bruce, 1982, pp. 161–167.

[23] Bruce, 1982, pp. 180–184.

[24] Bruce, 1982, pp. 191–194.

[25] Bruce, 1982, pp. 201–204.

[26] Bruce, 1982, pp. 209–211.

[28] Bruce, 1982, pp. 211–215.

[29] Bruce, 1982, pp. 215–220.

[30] Bruce, 1982, pp. 229–234.

[31] Bruce, 1982, pp. 234–238.

[32] Bruce, 1982, pp. 238–241.

[33] Bruce, 1982, pp. 241–247.

[34] Bruce, 1982, pp. 247–249.

[35] Bruce, 1982, pp. 259–261.

[36] Bruce, 1982, pp. 272–276.

[37] Bruce, 1982, pp. 276–280.

[Bruce,_1982,_pp._285-289.-38] Bruce, 1982, pp. 285–289.

[39] Bruce, 1982, pp. 303–306.

[Bruce,_1982,_pp._301-303.-40] Bruce, 1982, pp. 301–303.

[41] Bruce, 1982, pp. 289–292.

[42] Bruce, 1982, pp. 292–296.

[43] Bruce, 1982, pp. 296–303.

[44] Bruce, 1982, pp. 306–312.

[45] Bruce, 1982, pp. 318–319.

[46] Bruce, 1982, pp. 315–319.

[47] Bruce, 1982, pp. 320–325.

[48] Bruce, 1982, pp. 326–328.

[49] Bruce, 1982, pp. 328–333.

[50] Bruce, 1982, pp. 323–325.

[Knight149-51] Knight, 2011, p.149

[52] Bruce, 1982, pp. 334–336.

[53] Bruce, 1982, pp. 337–338.

[54] Bruce, 1982, pp. 341–344.

[55] Bruce, 1982, pp. 344–370.

[56] Bruce, 1982, pp. 370–375.

[57] Bruce, 1982, pp. 375–376.

[58] Bruce, 1982, pp. 377–381.

[59] Bruce, 1982, pp. 385–397.

[60] Bruce, 1982, pp. 397–426.

[61] Bruce, 1982, pp. 431–436.

[62] Bruce, 1982, pp. 440–444.

[63] Bruce, 1982, pp. 445–451.

[64] Bruce, 1982, pp. 451–458.

[65] Bruce, 1982, pp. 458–464.

[66] Bruce, 1982, pp. 464–468.

[67] Bruce, 1982, pp. 468–471.

[68] Bruce, 1982, pp. 471–481.

[69] Bruce, 1982, pp. 482–483.

[70] Bruce, 1982, pp. 486–487.

[71] Bruce, 1982, pp. 487–488.

[72] Bruce, 1982, pp. 489–490.

[73] Bruce, 1982, pp. 499–509.

[74] Bruce, 1982, pp. 491–493.

[75] Bruce, 1982, pp. 522–535.

[76] Bruce, 1982, pp. 535–544.

[77] Bruce, 1982, pp. 512–519.

[78] Bruce, 1982, pp. 550–552.

[79] Bruce, 1982, pp. 544–549.

[80] Bruce, 1982, pp. 493–498.

[81] Bruce, 1982, pp. 553–558.

[82] Bruce, 1982, pp. 561–564.

[83] Bruce, 1982, pp. 564–565.

[84] Bruce, 1982, pp. 576–581.

[85] Bruce, 1982, pp. 566–568.

[86] Bruce, 1982, pp. 569–573.

[87] Bruce, 1982, pp. 582–584.

[88] Bruce, 1982, pp. 585–590.

[89] Bruce, 1982, pp. 590–596.

[90] Bruce, 1982, pp. 597–601.

[91] Bruce, 1982, pp. 606–610.

[92] D'Orcy's Airship Manual - Royal Aircraft Factory (formerly Army Balloon Factory), Farnborough Archived 6 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine

[93] Ian, 2009, pp.

[95] Bruce, 1982, pp. 35–37.

[96] Bruce, 1982, pp. 46–49.

[97] Bruce, 1982, pp. 100–101.

[98] Bruce, 1982, pp. 106–108.

[99] Bruce, 1982, pp. 106–109.

[100] Bruce, 1982, pp. 120–122.

[101] Bruce, 1982, pp. 123–128.

[102] Bruce, 1982, pp. 151–153.

[103] Bruce, 1982, pp. 156–160.

[104] Bruce, 1982, pp. 168–169.

[106] Bruce, 1982, pp. 185–189.

[107] Bruce, 1982, pp. 189–191.

[108] Bruce, 1982, pp. 194–196.

[109] Bruce, 1982, pp. 196–198.

[110] Bruce, 1982, pp. 198–200.

[111] Bruce, 1982, pp. 204–220.

[112] Bruce, 1982, pp. 221–223.

[113] Bruce, 1982, pp. 223–226.

[114] Bruce, 1982, pp. 249–251.

[115] Bruce, 1982, pp. 254–256.

[116] Bruce, 1982, pp. 256–258.

[117] Bruce, 1982, pp. 258–259.

[118] Bruce, 1982, pp. 252–253.

[120] Bruce, 1982, pp. 261–268.

[121] Bruce, 1982, pp. 269–270.

[122] Bruce, 1982, pp. 271–272.

[123] Bruce, 1982, pp. 280–285.

[124] Bruce, 1982, pp. 312–314.

[125] Bruce, 1982, pp. 338–341.

[126] Bruce, 1982, pp. 381–385.

[127] Bruce, 1982, pp. 426–430.

[128] Bruce, 1982, pp. 436–440.

[129] Bruce, 1982, pp. 484–485.

[130] Bruce, 1982, pp. 509–512.

[131] Bruce, 1982, pp. 519–523.

[132] Bruce, 1982, pp. 559–560.

[133] Bruce, 1982, pp. 574–576.

[134] Bruce, 1982, pp. 602–605.

[135] Bruce, 1982, pp. 614–616.

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[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[note 1]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

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v t e Royal Flying Corps
Command structure	Brigades First Wing Second Wing Fifth Wing London Air Defence Area Squadrons
Airfields	Royal Flying Corps airfields
Aircraft	List of aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps
Personnel	Royal Flying Corps generals List of British WWI aces
World War I	World War I Aviation in World War I Royal Naval Air Service Imperial German Army Air Service Anti-aircraft Warfare in WWI