Replica Biplanes ID

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to first world war aircraft so any help with information on this pair will be appreciated.

They came flying right overhead north along the beach when I was out earlier this afternoon.

 

Replica or not, they are SE5a. The second one carries the markings of 85 Sqd and the first looks like it's carrying WW1 American roundels, in which case it may be an SE5E - an American licence built version.

 

Thanks Spamcan81

 

My pleasure. I'll dig around to see if they're originals or replicas.

 

This looks like this could be the 85 Sqd example -
S.E.5A replica – homage to a fierce ‘scout’ of WW1 « Shortfinals's Blog
It is operated by the Great War Display Team along with several other replica aircraft. The other SE5A is part of the same team and is carrying US markings as I suggested.

 

Thanks.

That's the second time in a month I've got lucky on the same stretch of beach.

At the end of June I was standing talking to a mate when the P38 in the picture attached came by, totally unexpected. Luckily we were standing next to my car and the hatch was open and my camera was within reach, just needing switched on. I looked it up. Despite the unusual markings, it's the real deal. Built in 1946 and repaired by Red Bull a few years ago after its previous owner crash-landed it.

Its finish is so glossy that you can see the fields, dunes, beach, sea and horizon reflected in the fuselage.

 

Didn't get to see it at Duxford this year but did see it last year. As you say, it's very, very shiny.

 

Its finish is so glossy that you can see the fields, dunes, beach, sea and horizon reflected in the fuselage.

 

Not sure that these aeroplanes are full size replicas of the SE5.

Edit: having taken a look at 'Spamcan81''s link posted in #5 they are definitely not full full size replicas.

Regards

 

What size do you suggest they were?

 

If you want to see some old planes have a look at the Shuttleworth collection
http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth-collection/aircraft.asp
They have a SE5A

 

I'm still interested in what Orion thinks this pair were if they weren't full size replicas.

 

Radio controlled.

 

Then he's a prick.

I was out with my Canon 7d and 400mm F5.6 photographing sea birds (sanderling taken the same day attached). The sound of the surf wiped out any other noise and I happened by chance to look up and see the pair of SE5s heading north overhead. I fired off a few shots of each as they passed, one of each I posted here for ID.

A couple of days later, only a couple of miles further south on Druridge Bay from where I saw them on the Friday, the same pair headed south overhead. My camera wasn't to hand and it was cloudy anyway, so I wouldn't have bothered photographing them if it was.

If Orion wants to check the facts before casting aspersions he might want to google to see what this pair were up to on the 28th of July this year. I photographed them heading north on the 27th and saw them again as they headed south a couple of days later on Sunday 29th (it may have been the 30th, but I don't think so).

I await his comments with interest.

 

To be exact, they are 7/8th scale replicas but close enough to full size that it's not readily noticeable unless they are seen alongside their full size counterparts.