The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.3 was a single rotary engined biplane developed by the British Royal Aircraft Factory prior to the First World War.
The B.E.4 and B.E.7 were virtually identical aircraft that differed only in the engine that was fitted.
In December 1911, the Royal Aircraft Factory started work of a new biplane of similar layout to its B.E.1 and B.E.2, but powered by a rotary engine to allow comparison with the water cooled and air cooled V8 engine powered B.E.1 and B.E.2.
Detailed design of the new aircraft was the responsibility of John Kenworthy, who drew up plans for a two-bay biplane with wings similar to those of the B.E.2, but more heavily staggered.
Lateral control was by means of wing warping, while the fuselage, which was wider than that of the B.E.1 and 2 to accommodate the rotary engine, was mounted between but clear of the upper and lower wings.
Two aircraft were built in early 1912, numbered B.E.3 and B.E.4, but as at the time the Royal Aircraft Factory was forbidden from building aircraft, the two aircraft were officially rebuilds of a Paulhan biplane and a Bristol Boxkite respectively, but the only parts reused were the engines.
First to fly was the B.E.3, powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) Gnome Omega engine, on 3 May 1912 with Geoffrey de Havilland at the controls.
Testing was sufficiently successful for de Havilland to take several passengers up in the B.E.3 later that day, and the aircraft was delivered to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) on 13 May 1912.
The B.E.4, also initially powered by a 50 hp Gnome, flew on 24 June that year, and was handed over to the RFC on 8 August.
It was re-engined with a 70 hp Gnome in September 1912.
At least two, and possibly three more similar aircraft powered by 50 hp Gnomes were built between late 1912 early 1913 by private contractors.
Kenworthy modified the design to allow fitting of a more powerful (140 hp (104 kW)) two row Gnome engine, which was built as the B.E.7, flying for the first time on 28 February 1913.
The final development of the rotary engined B.E. types was the B.E.8/8a types of 1914/15.
