Vickers F.B.16

The Vickers F.B.16 was a British single-seat tractor fighter of the First World War. After war broke out, Vickers Limited agreed with the Hart Engine Company of Leeds to fund an air-cooled radial of 150 hp, and the F.B.16 was designed around it. The prototype made its maiden flight during 1916, but testing showed that the pilot had a poor view and the engine was prone to overheating. The cowling was removed to improve cooling and the rear fuselage was cut down for a better rearward view, but the Hart problems continued and development of the radial stopped. The F.B.16 was then redesigned around the water-cooled Hispano-Suiza 8 V-8, rated at the same power, which allowed a narrower fuselage. The F.B.16A emerged late in 1916 and was destroyed in a crash on 20 December that year, and a second prototype was completed in January 1917. It demonstrated good performance, but only a few prototypes were built and the type did not enter service.