Original illustration of a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2a, a British bi-plane of the First World War. The B.E.2 entered service with the Royal Flying Corps in 1912, with the production variant designated as the B.E.2a; production continued as far as the B.E.2e in 1916. A highly successful aircraft, around 3,500 B.E.2s (of all variants) were produced, for use not just by the Royal Flying Corps, but also by the Royal Naval Air Service, and by various export markets.
Throughout the war the B.E.2 achieved milestones such as being piloted by the first airman to earn the Victoria Cross (William Rhodes-Moorhouse VC) in 1915; being the first aircraft to down a German airship over Britain (piloted by William Leefe Robinson VC) in 1916; and being the first British aircraft to carry out a medical evacuation in 1917.
This aviation illustration by artist Ken Wisdom is a high quality Giclée art print on cotton-rich fine art paper.
