|
|
The Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.9 was a version of the R.E.8 that had its unequal span wings replaced with the two-bay equal span wings of the B.E.2d. Two prototypes were produced by modifying existing R.E.8s, the first in mid-1917. The R.E.9 also had a modified rudder and larger fin, possibly to prevent the new design from inheriting the R.E.8's reputation for spinning. Tests revealed that the R.E.9 had a slower rate of climb than the R.E.8 and was no faster and the type didn't enter production. The second prototype was retained for some time as a test bed.