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 SE5a

 

The Royal Aircraft Factory Scout Experimental 5a was an "up-engined " S.E.5, from 150hp to 200hp. Flown by Allied aces such as William "Billy" Bishop and Edward "Mick" Mannon it was a formidable threat to the German Air Service fighters when it first entered service in mid 1917.

The combined production total for the S.E.5/S.e.5a was over 5,000 aircraft.

Dive speed was upgraded in 1.3r1 to 225mph. That is enough to beat anything bar the Fokker DVII. It is the best overall climber in the set by far and can really get up to altitude to attack the Zeppelins. It has the advantage of a Lewis gun which can be pointed upwards to hit a bogey across a circle, hit a bogey from below and unseen, or get right under a Zeppelin and rake it in relative safety. The ammo load is a little low for the Lewis so it is better to be really sure of a shot. It is very fast, with good acceleration and has a very smooth feel to it. It can carry 25lb Cooper bombs in "scout mode". The incendiary load is a little low with only 97 rounds for the Lewis. The SE5a has become a serious threat to all aircraft with the higher dive rate in 1.3r1. Get a little altitude, stay fast, don't turn that much, roll a little, and you have a great aircraft to survive in. Only the Spad XIII will catch you in a level chase, you can outclimb anything, and outdive anything (bar the Fokker DVII), and with the 45 degree Lewis you can outgun anything across the circle.

Engine: 200 hp Hispano-Suiza V8 piston engine

Wing Span: 26 ft 7.5 in

Length: 20 ft 11 in

Height: 9 ft 6 in

Weight: 1,400 lb (empty), 1,955 lb (maximum take off)

 General Stats
 Fuel Consumption (1%)  54s
 Stall Speed (1,000 ft)  45mph

 Armament Fighter
   Weapon  ROF  Rounds
 Primary  .303 Vickers  484rpm  500
 Secondary  .303 Lewis Gun  478rpm  291

 Armament Bomber
   Weapon  ROF  Rounds
 Primary  ---  ---  ---
 Secondary  ---  ---  ---

 Armament Scout
   Weapon  ROF  Rounds
 Primary  .303 Vickers  484rpm  500
 Secondary  .303 Lewis Gun  478rpm  200
 Bombs  20lb Cooper Bombs  ---  4

 Armament Balloon
   Weapon  ROF  Rounds
 Primary  .303 Vickers  484rpm  200
 Secondary  .303 Lewis Gun  478rpm  097

 Max Level Speed
 1,000 feet  2,500 feet  3,750 feet  5,000 feet  8,000 feet
 133mph  129mph  128mph  122mph  114mph

 Climb Rate
 1,000 feet  2,000 feet  3,000 feet  4,000 feet  5,000 feet
 25s  40s  50s  49s  51s
         
 6,000 feet  7,000 feet  8,000 feet  9,000 feet  10,000 feet
 54s  57s  59s  64s  67s

 30 Minute Climb
 Fuel  15 Mins  20 Mins  25 Mins  30 Mins
 33%  14250  16300  17600  18650

 Maximum Dive Speed
 225mph  

 Roll Rate LEFT
 1,000 feet  2,500 feet  3,750 feet  5,000 feet  8,000 feet
 10.7s  11.4s  11.2s  11.1s  12.3s

 Roll Rate RIGHT
 1,000 feet  2,500 feet  3,750 feet  5,000 feet  8,000 feet
 10.2s  10.9s  9.7s  9.7s  9.9s

 Turn Rate LEFT
 1,000 feet  2,500 feet  3,750 feet  5,000 feet  8,000 feet
 17.3s  18.0s  18.3s  19.0s  21.3s

 Acceleration
 1,000 feet  2,500 feet  3,750 feet  5,000 feet  8,000 feet
 15.3s  17.2s  19.9s  22.5s  24.8s

 Zoom Climb
 1,000 feet  2,500 feet  3,750 feet  5,000 feet  8,000 feet
 1500 (500)  2950 (450)  4250 (450)  5500 (500)  8475 (475) 

 Lethality
 Armament Fighter
   Weapon  Duration  Time To...
 Primary  .303 Vickers  62s  37s
 Secondary  .303 Lewis Gun  36.5s  FAIL
 Both Guns  ---  19s

 Lethality
 Armament Bomber
   Weapon  Duration  Time To...
 Primary  ---  ---  ---
 Secondary  ---  ---  ---

  Lethality
 Armament Scout
   Weapon  Duration  Time To...
 Primary  .303 Vickers  62s  37s
 Secondary  .303 Lewis Gun  36.5s  FAIL
 Both Guns  ---  19s
 Bombs  20lb Cooper Bombs  ---  ---

 Lethality
 Armament Balloon
   Weapon  Duration  Time To...
 Primary  .303 Vickers  25s  FAIL
 Secondary  .303 Lewis Gun  12s  FAIL
 Both Guns  ---  FAIL