This was the very first free flight plane I ever built. It is The Vintage Model Company SE5a first world war biplane fighter.
The SE5A was a development of the earlier SE5 (Scout Experimental 5) biplane, designed to gain air superiority over the German Luftstreitkrafte towards the end of World War 1.
Designed by H P Folland at the Royal Aircraft Factory, the early SE5s were under-powered and suffered a number of handling problems as well as weaknesses in the undercarriage. However, the basic design showed so much promise that the concerns were addressed and resolved - the result being the much more successful SE5A.
Over 5200 SE5As were manufactured by a number of companies, most notably Wolseley Motors, Austin Motors and Vickers. Initially, delivery to squadrons was held up by poor reliability and availability of the originally specified Hispano Suiza engine. Later models were fitted with the much more powerful and reliable Wolseley Viper engine (itself a development of the Hispano Suiza unit), which got the aircraft to the RFC squadrons that needed them from April 1917.
Although not as manoeuvrable in a dog fight as the SE5A's contemporary the Sopwith Camel, its earlier arrival into the war, alongside its speed, strength and stability, made it a favourite of many pilots.
