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BTO ( RANK 1.0 ) ( 🇫🇷 France ) ( Fighter ) (X2 bomb 10kg ( Vickers F.B.5 ))

🧭 Vickers F.B.5 "Gunbus" – Overview and History
The Vickers F.B.5 (Fighting Biplane 5), nicknamed "Gunbus", was the world’s first aircraft specifically designed as a fighter. Introduced in early 1915 by Britain, it featured a forward-firing machine gun in the nose, operated by a gunner.

It was a pusher biplane — the engine and propeller were mounted behind the crew, leaving the front clear for unobstructed firing. While innovative at the time, it was soon outclassed by faster, more agile monoplanes and tractor biplanes like the Fokker Eindecker.

🛠️ Design and Features
Pusher configuration: propeller at the back, crew seated in front.

Two-man crew: pilot in the rear, gunner in the front cockpit.

Steel-tube fuselage with fabric covering; wooden wings.

Open cockpit with excellent forward visibility for the gunner.

Fixed landing gear with skids to prevent nose-overs.

⚔️ Combat Use
Entered service in February 1915 with the Royal Flying Corps.

First true fighter aircraft to see operational combat.

Used mainly for escort and air patrol missions.

Despite its gun advantage, it was slower and less maneuverable than later German fighters, and by 1916 it was withdrawn from the front.

🔧 Notable Features
First operational fighter with a dedicated forward-firing machine gun.

Pusher layout allowed clear field of fire without synchronization gear.

Large and relatively slow, making it vulnerable to newer enemy aircraft.





🛠️ Vickers F.B.5 "Gunbus" Specifications
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| **Parameter** | **Value** |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Type** | Two-seat fighter biplane (pusher) |
| **Crew** | 2 (pilot, gunner) |
| **Wingspan** | 11.15 m |
| **Length** | 9.04 m |
| **Height** | 3.05 m |
| **Empty weight** | \~807 kg |
| **Gross weight** | \~1,134 kg |
| **Engine** | Gnome Monosoupape rotary, 100 hp |
| **Max speed** | \~113 km/h |
| **Range** | \~370 km |
| **Service ceiling** | \~2,500 m |
| **Armament** | 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) **Lewis gun** on flexible mount in nose |
| **Construction** | Steel-tube frame, wood wings, fabric skin |