Aircraft hub · 1917

Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a

The sensible ace-maker — fast, stable, forgiving. McCudden and Mannock swore by it; the Camel got the films. The gazetteer currently lists it at 6 UK museums.

6
Museums
1917
First flight
5,205
Built
138 mph
Top speed
First World War
Era

Last verified 2026-07-11 against the gazetteer Compendium. Airframes move — confirm on museum pages before travel.

On charge

Where to see the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a in the UK

The gazetteer records 6 Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a airframes (including cockpit sections and replicas where noted) across 6 UK collections, in 5 regions: London & Around, East of England, South East England, Northern England, Scotland.

MuseumCityRegionAirframes recorded
Montrose Air Station Museum Montrose Scotland Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a 7/8th scale replica (G-SEVA)
National Museum Of Flight North Berwick Scotland
Royal Air Force Museum London London London & Around Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 A F938
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum Chichester South East England Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A – replica
The Shuttleworth Collection Biggleswade East of England Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a G-EBIA
Yorkshire Air Museum York Northern England Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c – Replica
Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a – Replica
Computed from the survey

Collection context

Types you’ll see alongside

Supermarine Spitfire, de Havilland Vampire, Avro Anson, English Electric Lightning, Gloster Meteor.

Where the type is thickest

Scotland has 2 collections recording the type.

Marks and variants recorded

Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2c – Replica; Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 A; Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A – replica; Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a 7/8th scale replica (G-SEVA); Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a – Replica.

Type notes

The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a in brief

TypeRoyal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a
UK museums holding one6
Airframes recorded in this survey6

Serials are the gazetteer's survey snapshot of what each collection records on charge — restorations move between workshops and reserve hangars, so check the museum page for opening times and current display status before travelling. Every type across all 118 museums is indexed in the Compendium.

Aircraft questions

Frequently asked

How many Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a airframes are left in the UK?

The Aviation Gazetteer records 6 Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a airframes in UK collections.

Which museum has the most Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a airframes?

Yorkshire Air Museum has the most in this survey, with 2 recorded airframes.

CompendiumGazetteer