An Ungainly Biplane Fighter That Outlived Many Newer Aircraft

Rare air-to-air footage of an R.A.F. F.E.2b - a lumbering WWI fighter that became a bomber—and served longer than faster aircraft like the Sopwith Triplane. More WW1 aircraft: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5783AC5B8CC52FA6 In this video you can take to the skies with a rare and unforgettable view of a fully airworthy reproduction Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b—a two-seat pusher biplane that began life as a fighter and later evolved into a tactical night bomber during the First World War. Stunning air-to-air footage alongside a replica Sopwith Triplane, captures a unique moment in aviation history, more than a century after the F.E.2b first entered service. Originally designed to counter early German air superiority, the F.E.2b's unconventional layout—with its rear-mounted propeller and forward gunner—gave it a vital role in ending the "Fokker Scourge." Though it was slower and bulkier than other aircraft of the era, its adaptability and teamwork-driven operation kept it in frontline service well after more modern designs had been retired. Featuring historic commentary and insights from pilots and observers, the video explores what made this ungainly aircraft such a valuable asset to the Royal Flying Corps. This story includes perspectives from famed American observer Frederick Libby—the first U.S. airman to score a kill in the RFC—and recalls how the F.E.2b was involved in the Red Baron's first aerial victory. A must-watch for WWI aviation enthusiasts and history fans alike, this video showcases not just the aircraft, but the courage and grit of the men who flew them. Hit the Join button for access to exclusive Members-Only content. -------------------------------------------------- To be a Member of this Freeview channel to get access to exclusive Members-Only video content click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6odimYAtqsr0_7m8p2Dhiw/join Get 4 FREE full length doco movies from Historical Machines TV by logging in with your YouTube account using this offer link: https://historicalmachines.tv/yt/197-hmfreeviewoffer *** Historical Machines TV — Free 10-Day Trial *** : See much more video material like this, and more, on our premier video-on-demand streaming service (from US$2.99 per month) at http://www.historicalmachines.tv/pages/fuel-to-noise. -------------------------------------------------- Aviation, Motorsport, Military Vehicles, Vintage Machinery, Steam, History & More Historical Machines TV (https://www.historicalmachines.tv) is our premier advert-free video-on-demand streaming service. For less than the price of a cup of coffee per month you can access our ever-growing catalog of historical machinery videos. A Free Trial is available, so what are you waiting for?! Our on-going mission is to discover, record and preserve the audiovisual history of the machines and owner/operators that we come across, for the benefit of future generations. We hunt out and film all manner of aircraft, military vehicles, vintage cars, trains, boats, big machinery, and basically anything and anyone that interests us. The bulk of that material, and much of our archive footage is only be available on our premier Historical Machines TV service, so join up now. HMTV: https://www.historicalmachines.tv Website: https://www.aviationfilm.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoricalAviationFilmUnit/ Merch: https://merch.aviationfilm.com -------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2025 Historical Aviation Film Unit All Rights Reserved Worldwide. This video material may not be reproduced in any form (except on other websites as an unedited embedded video which links back to to this YouTube master), without the written permission of the Historical Aviation Film Unit. This particularly applies to television broadcasters and other media outlets. #ww1warbirds #fe2b #historicalmachinestv #pusheraircraft #biplane #vintageaircraft