Developed from a mix of the Maurice Farman designed MF.11 and the Henry Farman designed HF.22, the F.40 had an overall smoother crew nacelle. An open tail boom truss supported a horizontal tailplane and a curved fin. The aircraft went into production in 1915.
Operational history
Forty French Air Forceescadrilles were equipped with F.40s. They operated for just over a year, but were replaced in early 1917. The F.40 was also operated by the No. 5 Wing of the Royal Naval Air Service, Belgian forces in France, and also by the Russians Italian aircraft maker Savoia-Marchetti built F.40s for use by the police force until 1922.
Variants
Data from:French aircraft of the First World War ;F.40:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Renault 130 hp, span. ;F.40:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with De Dion-Bouton 12B, span. ;F.40H:2-seat seaplane trainer with Renault 130 hp, span. ;F.40bis:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Renault 8Gc, span. ;F.40ter:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Lorraine 8A, span. ;F.40 QC:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Renault 130 hp, span and elongated tail. ;F.40P:adaption to fire Le Prieur rockets ;F.41:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Renault 8B, span. ;F.41 H:2-seat seaplane with Renault 8B, span. ;F.41bis:2-seat reconnaissance aircraft with Lorraine 6AM, span. ;F.41bis H:2-seat seaplane with Lorraine 6AM, span. ;F.1,40:2-seat trainer powered by an Renault 8B, span. ;F.1,40bis:2-seat floatplane trainer powered by a Lorraine 6AM, span. ;F.1,40bis:2-seat trainer powered by a Renault 8C, span. ;F.1,40:2/3-seat trainer powered by a Renault 130 hp, span. ;F.1,40ter:2-seat trainer powered by a Lorraine 8Aby, span. ;F.1,41:2-seat trainer powered by a Renault 8B, span. ;F.1,41 H:2-seat floatplane trainer powered by a Renault 8B, span. ;F.1,46:2-seat dual-control trainer powered by a Renault 8B, span. ;F.2,41:2-seat trainer powered by a Lorraine 8Bd, span.
Army type numbers
The French Army applied type numbers to aircraft typesin service. Initially these were used in a similar fashion to individual serial numbers, later used to denote similar aircraft types. ;Army Type 42: F.40 ;Army Type 43: F.40 ;Army Type 44: F.41bis with Lorraine 6AM engine. ;Army Type 51: F.41. ;Army Type 51 E2:F.1,41 with wings of altered camber. ;Army Type 56: F.40bis. ;Army Type 57: F.40ter. ;Army Type 60: F.1,40bis. ;Army Type 61: F.1,40ter.
