Original wooden wing strut from a First World War Vickers F.B. 5 (Fighting Biplane 5), more commonly known as the 'Gun Bus'. This was the first aircraft specifically designed as a fighter for the Royal Flying Corps. The striking design had unstaggered, equal-span wings with a tail boom of steel tubing all braced with wooden struts & wire. The engine was mounted behind the cockpit and designed to 'push' the aircraft through the air with the pilot and airgunner sitting up front. The nose was fitted with a Lewis machine gun on a pillar mount. The strut is approximately 138cm / 54" in length, 11cm/ 4.5" at the widest point and around 1.5" / 3.5cm thick. Beautifully shaped and complete with a steel bolt at each end onto which the wire bracing was attached. This strut was found with a few others at RAF Upper Heyford some years ago and has suffered a bit over the years with some damage to both ends and loss of the original finished surface. Clearly this has been out in the open and weathered. It is now quite rough with a deep open grain and some cracking. That said this is a great item and would make a super display piece. It could even be sanded smooth and waxed or varnished if required. Not something that is likely to turn up again! Stock code M18795.
