The Farman F.40 was a French pusher biplane reconnaissance aircraft.
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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.
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.
Data from:French aircraft of the First World War[1]
- F.40
- 2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with 130 hp (97 kW) Renault 130 hp, 17.59 m (57.7 ft) span.
- F.40
- 2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with 130 hp (97 kW) De Dion-Bouton 12B, 17.59 m (57.7 ft) span.
- F.40H
- 2-seat seaplane trainer with 130 hp (97 kW) Renault 130 hp, 17.67 m (58.0 ft) span.
- F.40bis
- 2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with 160 hp (120 kW) Renault 8Gc, 17.59 m (57.7 ft) span.
- F.40ter
- 2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with 150 hp (110 kW) Lorraine 8A, 17.59 m (57.7 ft) span.
- F.40 QC
- 2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with 130 hp (97 kW) Renault 130 hp, 17.59 m (57.7 ft) span and elongated tail.
- F.40P
- adaption to fire Le Prieur rockets
- F.41
- 2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with 80 hp (60 kW) Renault 8B, 16.32 m (53.5 ft) span.
- F.41 H
- 2-seat seaplane with 80 hp (60 kW) Renault 8B, 16.32 m (53.5 ft) span.
- F.41bis
- 2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with 110 hp (82 kW) Lorraine 6AM, 16.32 m (53.5 ft) span.
- F.41bis H
- 2-seat seaplane with 110 hp (82 kW) Lorraine 6AM, 16.32 m (53.5 ft) span.
- F.1,40
- 2-seat trainer powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Renault 8B, 17.67 m (58.0 ft) span.
- F.1,40bis
- 2-seat floatplane trainer powered by a 110 hp (82 kW) Lorraine 6AM, 17.67 m (58.0 ft) span.
- F.1,40bis
- 2-seat trainer powered by a 160 hp (120 kW) Renault 8C, 17.67 m (58.0 ft) span.
- F.1,40
- 2/3-seat trainer powered by a 130 hp (97 kW) Renault 130 hp, 17.67 m (58.0 ft) span.
- F.1,40ter
- 2-seat trainer powered by a 160 hp (120 kW) Lorraine 8Aby, 17.67 m (58.0 ft) span.
- F.1,41
- 2-seat trainer powered by a 80 hp (60 kW) Renault 8B, 16.39 m (53.8 ft) span.
- F.1,41 H
- 2-seat floatplane trainer powered by a 80 hp (60 kW) Renault 8B, 16.39 m (53.8 ft) span.
- F.1,46
- 2-seat dual-control trainer powered by a 80 hp (60 kW) Renault 8B, 17.67 m (58.0 ft) span.
- F.2,41
- 2-seat trainer powered by a 275 hp (205 kW) Lorraine 8Bd, 17.67 m (58.0 ft) 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 110 hp (82 kW) 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.
Data from French aircraft of the First World War,[1] The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft [2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 9.25 m (30 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 17.59 m (57 ft 9 in)
- Height: 3.9 m (12 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 52 m2 (560 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 748 kg (1,649 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,120 kg (2,469 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Renault 130 hp V-12 air-cooled piston engine, 97 kW (130 hp)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch pusher propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 135 km/h (84 mph, 73 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft)
- Range: 420 km (260 mi, 230 nmi)
- Endurance: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Service ceiling: 4,050 m (13,290 ft)
- Time to altitude: 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in 15 minutes
Armament
Davilla; Soltan. 2002. pp. 233–244
- Cony, Christophe (July 1997). "Aviateur d'Observation en 14/18 (deuxième partie)" [Observation Aircraft of 14/18]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (52): 10–15. ISSN 1243-8650.
- Davilla, Dr. James J.; Soltan, Arthur M. (January 2002). French Aircraft of the First World War. Flying Machines Press. pp. 233–244. ISBN 1891268090.
- Donald, David (1997). "Farman F.40". The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Prospero Books. p. 399. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
- Klaauw, Bart van der (March–April 1999). "Unexpected Windfalls: Accidentally or Deliberately, More than 100 Aircraft 'arrived' in Dutch Territory During the Great War". Air Enthusiast (80): 54–59. ISSN 0143-5450.
- Liron, Jean (1984). Les avions Farman. Collection Docavia. Vol. 21. Paris: Éditions Larivière. OCLC 37146471.
