Farman F.40 Explained
The Farman F.40 was a French pusher biplane reconnaissance aircraft.
Development
Developed from a mix of the Maurice Farman-designed MF.11 and the Henry Farman-designed HF.22, the F.40 (popularly called the Horace Farman) had an overall smoother crew nacelle. An open tail boom truss supported a horizontal tailplane and a curved fin. The aircraft went into production in 1915.
Operational history
Forty French Air Force escadrilles (squadrons) were equipped with F.40s. They operated for just over a year, but were replaced in early 1917.
The F.40 was also operated by the No. 5 Wing of the Royal Naval Air Service, Belgian forces in France, and also by the Russians. The Portuguese Forces in Mozambique included a small squadron of F.40, which participated in the East African Campaign.
Italian aircraft maker Savoia-Marchetti built F.40s for use by the police force until 1922.
Variants
Data from:French aircraft of the First World War[1]
- F.40:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Renault 130 hp, span.
F.40:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with De Dion-Bouton 12B, span.
F.40H:2-seat seaplane trainer with Renault 130 hp, span.
F.40bis:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Renault 8Gc, span.
F.40ter:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Lorraine 8A, span.
F.40 QC:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Renault 130 hp, span and elongated tail.
F.40P:adaption to fire Le Prieur rockets
F.41:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Renault 8B, span.
F.41 H:2-seat seaplane with Renault 8B, span.
F.41bis:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Lorraine 6AM, span.
F.41bis H:2-seat seaplane with Lorraine 6AM, span.
F.1,40:2-seat trainer powered by an Renault 8B, span.
F.1,40bis:2-seat floatplane trainer powered by a Lorraine 6AM, span.
F.1,40bis:2-seat trainer powered by a Renault 8C, span.
F.1,40:2/3-seat trainer powered by a Renault 130 hp, span.
F.1,40ter:2-seat trainer powered by a Lorraine 8Aby, span.
F.1,41:2-seat trainer powered by a Renault 8B, span.
F.1,41 H:2-seat floatplane trainer powered by a Renault 8B, span.
F.1,46:2-seat dual-control trainer powered by a Renault 8B, span.
F.2,41:2-seat trainer powered by a Lorraine 8Bd, span.
Army type numbers
The French Army applied type numbers to aircraft types in service. Initially these were used in a similar fashion to individual serial numbers, later used to denote similar aircraft types.
- Army Type 42: F.40
Army Type 43: F.40
Army Type 44: F.41bis with Lorraine 6AM engine.
Army Type 51: F.41.
Army Type 51 E2:F.1,41 with wings of altered camber.
Army Type 56: F.40bis.
Army Type 57: F.40ter.
Army Type 60: F.1,40bis.
Army Type 61: F.1,40ter.
Military operators
Greece
Serbia
Civil operators
- Compañía Colombiana de Navegación Aérea (CCNA)
Bibliography
- Cony. Christophe. Aviateur d'Observation en 14/18 (deuxième partie) . Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire . July 1997 . 52 . 10–15 . Observation Aircraft of 14/18 . fr . 1243-8650.
- Book: Davilla . Dr. James J. . Soltan . Arthur M. . French Aircraft of the First World War . January 2002 . Flying Machines Press . 1891268090 . 233–244.
- Encyclopedia: Donald . David . Farman F.40 . The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft . 399 . Prospero Books . 1997 . 1-85605-375-X .
- Klaauw. Bart van der. Unexpected Windfalls: Accidentally or Deliberately, More than 100 Aircraft 'arrived' in Dutch Territory During the Great War . Air Enthusiast . March–April 1999 . 80 . 54–59 . 0143-5450.
- Book: Liron . Jean . Les avions Farman . 1984 . Éditions Larivière . Paris . 37146471. Collection Docavia. 21.
Further reading
Notes and References
- Davilla; Soltan. 2002. pp. 233–244
