RAF S.E.5

The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 was a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory by a team consisting of Henry Folland, John Kenworthy and Major Frank Goodden. It was one of the fastest aircraft of the war, while being both stable and relatively manoeuvrable. According to aviation author Robert Jackson, the S.E.5 was: “the nimble fighter that has since been described as the ‘Spitfire of World War One

Role:                                   Single-seat fighter

Manufacturer:                 various (see text)

Designer:                           Henry Folland / John Kenworthy

First flight:                        22 November 1916

Introduction:                    March 1917

Primary users:                  Royal Flying Corps

United States Army Air Service
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force