What aircraft is this?

[Ignatieff]

Just finishing the highly enjoyable (if a trifle dry and heavily influenced by the Cold War - it was written in 1963) 'The Transcaspian Episode' by Colonel C.H.Ellis, which details British intervention in southern Russia (Transcaspia) between 1918-1920.  Ellis served in the campaign, so is great on the incidental detail that all wargamers love! Many thanks by the way to Mark Plant for recommending it.

Anyway, there is a picture of the sole recce plane that the Transcaspian/British alliance used:



Question is, what type is it?  I want one, but have no clue what to look for. 

As always, any or all help gratefully received.

[Westfalia Chris]

Could be a Farman F40:

http://richard.ferriere.free.fr/3vues/farman_f40_3v.jpg

[Svennn]

I think it may be a Farman (F.20?) but I would have thought you are probably better off looking at whats available as a close proxy as it is not too dissimilar to a DH2 or suchlike.

[Ignatieff]

Looks like a F40 on comparison.....there must be one out there.  The search is on!

[Grekwood]

it could be a Sopwith Gun Bus http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/sopwith_gunbus.php

[Ignatieff]

hmmm.  Similar, but doesnt have the round 'big end' on the engine cowling, but that may have been an adaptation.  Interesting

[The Dalai]

Chaps, I'm pretty sure it's a Farman F40.  The clue is the very short bottom wings.  The Sopwith Gun Bus is a much bigger beast.  It looks like a FE 2b but it's wings are of the same size top and bottom and much bigger.

So the winner is the Farman F40.  I just happen to be surfing for various biplanes and was looking at all of these.

As for the 'round end' I think that's an engine cover for parking on the ground.  It seems to be too enveloping for a cowling leaving little ventilation/cooling.

[Helen]

Looking at my book on Aircraft of the Russian Civil War by Vyacheslav Kondrat'ev & Marat Khaytulin it seems to me that's a "Farman -30".

The Russians had only ordered Farman -30s ("Farsal","Fartri"). Fron the table it reads 100 ordered and only 50 ready by Feb 1921.

I'll need to read more of the book to get an overview of the aircraft history.

I hope this may assist,

Helen

[carlos marighela]

Agree, that it's a Farman F30/ F40. Here's a drawing of said beastie:

http://richard.ferriere.free.fr/3vues/farman_f40_3v.jpg

and here's a colour plate of one supposedly in Czech service from Wings palette:

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww1/o/290/104/0#1

[Ignatieff]

Welcome back Dalai, what a pleasant surprise first thing in the morning!

[The Dalai]

Ah yes, His Holiness just floats in when you least expect him.

[Ignatieff]

'levitation' rather than any other form of 'ation'.....