Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a Giclée Art Print

High quality art print of a Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a, a British biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War. Produced in similar numbers to the Sopwith Camel (both of which saw production runs of approximately 5,000), the S.E.5a was one of the fastest aircraft of the war, and helped the Royal Flying Corps (and later, Royal Air Force) to win air superiority in Western Europe.

The S.E.5 entered service in March 1917, deploying to the Western Front of the First World War the following month; very few were produced before the S.E.5a, featuring an upgraded engine, replaced it in June. The S.E.5a would go on to be flown by 21 British squadrons and two American, any many top aces - including Albert Ball and Edward Mannock - claimed numerous victories flying it.

This illustration depicts S.E.5a B891, flown by Captain George McElroy of No. 24 Squadron RFC; one of the greatest aces of the First World War, McElroy was credited with 47 aerial victories in S.E.5a B891 before he was shot down in July 1918.

This illustration by Rob Wisdom is a high-quality Giclée art print on cotton-rich fine art paper.