Henri Farman and his brother Maurice Farman, started their aviation company at Boulogne-sur-Seine in 1912. Two of their planes, the Farman MF-7 and the Farman MF-II, were popular Allied reconnaissance craft during the early stages of the war. They were purchased by both the French Army Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps before the outbreak of the First World War. They were also used by the Belgian and Italian air forces. The Royal Naval Air Service used the Farman MF-II for its first night bombing mission when it attacked a German artillery installation on 21st December, 1914.
| Performance Data of the Farman MF-II |
| Type |
reconnaissance/light bomber |
| Engine |
100 hp Renault |
| Wing Span |
53 ft 4 in (16.15 m) |
| Length |
30 ft 8 in (9.45 m) |
| Height |
10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) |
| Maximum Speed |
66 mph (106 kph) |
| Maximum Height |
12,467 ft (3,800 m) |
| Endurance |
3 hours 45 minutes |
| Armament |
1 machine-guns, 288 lb (130 kg) bomb load |
