About This Aircraft
The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 (Reconnaissance Experimental 8) was a British two-seat biplane reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the First World War. It was designed to replace the B.E.2. Though suffering early handling problems, it became a widely used workhorse. F3556 is a surviving original from 1918.
Specifications
Engine: One RAF 4a V-12 air-cooled piston engine, 140 hp | Wingspan: 42 ft 7 in (12.98 m) | Length: 27 ft 10.5 in (8.50 m) | Height: 11 ft 4.5 in (3.47 m) | Max Takeoff Weight: 2,678 lb (1,215 kg) | Max Speed: 103 mph (166 km/h) at sea level | Endurance: 4.25 hours | Service Ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,115 m) | Armament: 1 x forward-firing.303 Vickers machine gun (synchronised), 1 or 2 x.303 Lewis guns in rear cockpit; up to 224 lb (102 kg) of bombs.