These walk-around photos were taken at the RAF Museum London in Hendon in 2019. They show a replica Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8, displayed as A3930/B of the Royal Flying Corps. The RE.8 — universally known as the "Harry Tate" after a popular music hall comedian — was the standard British two-seat reconnaissance and artillery observation aircraft from mid-1917 until the Armistice, serving alongside the Armstrong Whitworth FK.8. Intended as a replacement for the dangerously vulnerable BE.2, it gained an unfortunate reputation as difficult and unforgiving to fly, though it eventually gave reasonably satisfactory service. Over 4,000 were built, yet only two original examples survive — making a flying replica of exceptional value for both museum display and historical research.
This full-size flying replica was built in 2011 by The Vintage Aviator Ltd (TVAL) in Masterton, New Zealand, fitted with a new-build RAF 4a engine of the correct type. It was successfully test flown in New Zealand before being shipped to the United Kingdom and going on display in the Grahame-White Factory at Hendon.