The BAT F.K.23 Bantam was a British single-seat fighter biplane produced by British Aerial Transport Company Limited of London during World War I. The F.K.23 Bantam I was designed by the Dutch Frits Koolhoven.

• Role: Single-seat Fighter
• National origin: United Kingdom
• Manufacturer: British Aerial Transport Company Limited
• Designer: Frits Koolhoven
• First flight: January 1918
• Introduction: 1921
• Number built: 15

Military operators

• French Air Force 1 aircraft
• Netherlands, Koolhoven factory operated 1 aircraft.
• Royal Air Force 1 aircraft.
• United States Army Air Corps received 1 aircraft

One aircraft, registered K-123, is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Specifications (F.K.23 Bantam)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 378 lb (171.46 kg) disposable load
• Length: 18 ft 5 in (5.61 m)
• Wingspan: 25 ft (7.6 m)
• Height: 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m)
• Wing area: 185 sq ft (17.2 m²)
• Empty weight: 830 lb (376 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,333 lb (605 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 22 imp gal (100.01 l; 26.42 US gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × ABC Wasp II 7-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 200 hp (150 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed BAT tractor 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) pitch, 7 ft 10.5 in (2.400 m) diameter

Performance

• Maximum speed: 138 mph (222 km/h; 120 kn) at sea level

• 134 mph (216 km/h; 116 kn) at 10,000 ft (3,048.00 m)
• 127 mph (204 km/h; 110 kn) at 15,000 ft (4,572.00 m)
• 121 mph (195 km/h; 105 kn) at 20,000 ft (6,096.00 m)

• Landingspeed: 50 mph (80 km/h; 43 kn)
• Endurance: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,579 ft/min (8.02 m/s)
• Time to altitude: 5,000 ft (1,524.00 m) in 3 minutes 10 seconds

• 10,000 ft (3,048.00 m) in 7 minutes 12 seconds
• 15,000 ft (4,572.00 m) in 21 minutes 29 seconds

• Wing loading: 7.2 lb/sq ft (35 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.1274 hp/lb (0.21 kW/kg)

Armament

• Guns: 2× forward firing, synchronised 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns