The British RAF SE.5 (Scout Experimental 5) was developed in 1916 by Henry Folland and J. Kenworthy of the Royal Aircraft Factory in Farnborough, who designed the aircraft around the new 150hp HispanoSuiza 8a V8 engine. The first three prototypes flew in November that year, with the first two being lost in crashes due to a weak wing. The third aircraft underwent significant modification, and the type ultimately became known as a very strong machine that could be dived at high speed.

The first examples of the aircraft were delivered to the Western Front before the Sopwith Camel. However, despite the fact that it had a better overall performance (than the Camel), problems with the HispanoSuiza engine meant that there were relatively few SE5s were delivered until well into 1918.

This new SE.5A1 has been built by "The Vintage Aviator Limited" in Wellington, New Zealand, under the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority Part 148 Manufacturing Certificate.

The aircraft is the first of type SE5A1, with the serial number WA19, and registration ZKSEV.

This full scale aircraft has been built from original Royal Aircraft Factory drawings, and is powered by a Hispano Suiza 180 hp direct drive engine built under licence by Wright Martin USA.

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