The first prototype, the F.K.9 [2] was built and first flown in the summer of 1916, powered by a 110 hp (80 kW) Clerget 9Z rotary engine.

It had a shallow fuselage, with the wings joined by plank-like interplane struts,[3] similar to those used by the Sopwith Triplane.

After evaluation at the Central Flying School in late 1916, a production order for 50 was placed by the RFC for a modified version, the F.K.10.

[2] The production F.K.10 had a new, deeper fuselage, and a new tail, but retained the wing planform of the F.K.9.

[4] Data from Warplanes of the First World War, Fighters Volume One, Great Britain.