Royal Aircraft Factory R.E . 8 A Siddeley-Deasy -built R.E . 8 The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 was a British two-seat biplane reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the First World War . Intended as a replacement for the vulnerable B.E.2 , the R.E.8 was little improvement and is regarded as one of the worst aircraft designs of the war . Popularly known in rhyming slang as the `` Harry Tate `` after a music-hall comedian , over 4 , 000 R.E.8s were produced and they served in most theatres including Italy , Russia , Palestine and Mesopotamia . The first of two prototype R.E.8s ( R econnaissance E xperimental 8 ) flew on 17 June , 1916 and the first production aircraft reached France in November of that year . However , early aircraft were prone to spinning , resulting in a number of accidents and the R.E.8 was grounded while a larger tailfin was designed . Eventually 4 , 077 R.E.8s were produced with a further 353 on order cancelled at the end of the war . In addition to the Royal Aircraft Factory , the R.E.8 was produced by six other companies including Austin Motors , Standard Motors , Siddeley-Deasy and Conventry Ordnance Works . The R.E.8 had a large 4-blade propeller and raised exhausts . The R.E.8 was larger and sturdier than the B.E.2 and was better armed with a synchronised forward-firing .303-in Lewis gun and one or two Lewis guns on a Scarff ring in the observer 's cockpit . Like the B.E.2 , it was also inherently stable , making it a good platform for artillery spotting but gave it little chance at out-manoeuvring enemy fighters . The fuel tank was made from gutta percha and the R.E.8 had a tendency to burn when damaged . Overall , the R.E.8 was not a popular aircraft with aircrews . On 13 April 1917 , a patrol of six R.E.8s from No. 59 Squadron RFC was met by aircraft from Jasta 11 and all the R.E.8s were shot down within five minutes . Most R.E.8s were powered by the 150-hp ( 112 kW ) Royal Aircraft Factory 4a air-cooled 12-cylinder inline engine though some received the 200-hp ( 149 kW ) RAF 4d engine and others had a Hispano-Suiza engine . A supply shortage of the Rolls-Royce Eagle halted plans to use it as the R.E.8s powerplant . The engine 's exhaust protruded over the upper wing so that the crew were not exposed to the fumes . The R.E.8 equipped 18 Royal Flying Corps squadrons in 1917 and 19 squadrons in 1918 . Belgium was the only country other than Britain ( and her Dominions ) to operate the R.E.8 , receiving 22 in July 1917 . All R.E.8s were quickly retired after the war and only two survive today . The restoration of R.E.8 F3556 at the Imperial War Museum Duxford was completed in 2004 . This aircraft , built by Daimler , had arrived in France on Armistice Day . The other surviving R.E.8 is in Brussels , Belgium . Specifications General characteristics Crew : two , pilot & observer Length : 27 ft 10 in ( 8.5 m ) Wingspan : 42 ft 7 in ( 12.98 m ) Height : 11 ft 4 in ( 3.47 m ) Wing area : 389 ft² ( 35.07 m² ) Empty : 1 , 577 lb ( 717 kg ) Loaded : lb ( kg ) Maximum takeoff : 2 , 862 lb ( 1 , 301 kg ) Powerplant : 1x Royal Aircraft Factory 4a air-cooled 12-cylinder inline engine , 150 hp ( 112 kW ) Performance Maximum speed : 102 mph ( 164 km/h ) Range : miles ( km ) Service ceiling : 13 , 500 ft ( 4 , 115 m ) Rate of climb : 22 minutes to 10 , 000 ft ( 3 , 045 m ) Wing loading : lb/ft² ( kg/m² ) Armament 1x .303 in ( 7.7 mm ) forward-firing Lewis gun 1 or 2x .303 in ( 7.7 mm ) Lewis guns in rear cockpit up to 224 lb ( 102 kg ) bombs Operators Australia Belgium United Kingdom Related content Related development : none Comparable aircraft : Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 - Rumpler C.I - Breguet 14 Designation sequence : R.E.5 - R.E.7 - R.E . 8 Aviation in World War I Aces | Aircraft of the Entente Powers | Aircraft of the Central Powers | Zeppelins | Category : World War I Aircraft Lists related to aviation Aircraft | Aircraft manufacturers | Aircraft engines | Aircraft engine manufacturers | Airports | Airlines Air forces | Aircraft weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation Categories : British bomber aircraft 1910-1919 | British military reconnaissance aircraft 1910-1919 | World War I aircraft In other languages : Deutsch 