British S.E. 5

S.E. 5 RAF airplane model. Following the creation of the Scout Experimental 5, the enhanced S.E.5a model was launched. Upon its deployment in 1917, it outclassed all German rivals. It became the preferred choice for many pilots over the Sopwith Camel due to its ease of flight, superior high-altitude performance, and quieter inline engine. Additionally, its speed surpassed that of the Camel, granting pilots the discretion to disengage from combat. Although Albert Ball was critical of it, pilots such as William Bishop and Edward Mannock leveraged the S.E.5a's capabilities, establishing it as a formidable aircraft. South African ace Anthony Beauchamp Proctor achieved 54 victories with this model, the most of any pilot. During World War I, the S.E.5 and S.E.5a were associated with 207 combat fatalities and 79 non-combat related pilot deaths.

Mahogany Wood. Scale: 1/20. Wingspan 16 inches, Length 12 1/2 inches.