Vickers F.B.5

Vickers F.B 5 "Gunbus"
Airworthy Gunbus replica built in 1966 and painted in RFC colours
General information
TypeFighter
ManufacturerVickers Limited
Designer
Primary userRoyal Flying Corps
Number built
  • 207 F.B.5s
  • 119 F.B.9s
History
Introduction dateNovember 1914
First flight17 July 1914
Retired
The sole F.B.6 shows off its overhang.
The F.B.6
F.B.9
F.B.9

The Vickers F.B.5 (Fighting Biplane 5) (known as the "Gunbus") was a British two-seat pusher military biplane of the First World War. Armed with a single .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun operated by the observer in the front of the nacelle, it was the first aircraft purpose-built for air-to-air combat to see service, making it the world's first operational fighter aircraft.