Why do they call it Sopwith Camel?
The Sopwith Camel was the most famous British fighter aeroplane of World War One. The Camel, so-called because of the hump-shaped protective covering over its machine guns, shot down more enemy aircraft than any other Allied fighter ‘plane during World War One.
How much did a Sopwith Camel cost?
As a consequence, in 1918 the standard Sopwith Camel airframe and engine went for around $250,000 current U.S. dollars. Two Vickers machine guns and instrumentation could easily add another $100,000 to the price package, making the typical World War I fighting aircraft a very costly machine indeed.
Did the Sopwith Camel have a throttle?
The Sopwith camel had a number of engine variants. The Gnome “mono” engines did not have throttles and were at full “throttle” while the ignition was on. They could be “throttled back” with a selector switch which cut the ignition to some of the cylinders to reduce power for landing.
Did the Red Baron fly a Sopwith Camel?
German Lieutenant Lothar von Richthofen, younger brother of Manfred, the celebrated “Red Baron,” peered over the cockpit of his Fokker spotting a mixed flight of British Sopwith F. 1 Camel fighters and Bristol F.
Are there any Sopwith Camels still flying?
Both the Sopwith Camel and the VanDersarl Blériot donated to the Smithsonian by Javier Arango are currently on display in the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
What gun did Sopwith Camel use?
Vickers machine guns
Specification
| F.1 Camel | 2F.1 Camel | |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplant | One 130 hp Clerget 9B | One 150 hp Bentley BR1 |
| Span | 28 ft 0 in | |
| Maximum Weight | 1,453 lb | 1,523 lb |
| Capacity & Armament | Pilot, two forward firing Vickers machine guns. Optionally four 25 lb bombs under fuselage. | Pilot, one Vickers gun firing through propeller, one Lewis gun above upper wing. |
Why was the Sopwith Camel so good?
One of the Camel’s most distinctive features was an amazingly fast right turn. This came from a combination of the plane’s forward weight and the torque of its powerful rotary engine. It was a feature unique to this fighter. Pilots made great use of that right turn to gain an advantage over their opponents.
Were Sopwith Camels used in ww2?
The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917….Sopwith Camel.
| Camel | |
|---|---|
| Introduction | June 1917 |
| Retired | January 1920 |
| Primary users | Royal Flying Corps Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 5,490 |
How does machine gun not hit propeller?
There are many different types of synchronization gear, but the simplest involves an irregular-shaped disk that triggers the gun to fire once per revolution, at a specific point. This produces a high rate of fire without the risk of hitting the propeller.
How did ww1 pilots not shoot through propellers?
A synchronization gear (also known as a gun synchronizer or interrupter gear) was a device enabling a single-engine tractor configuration aircraft to fire its forward-firing armament through the arc of its spinning propeller without bullets striking the blades.
What is a Sopwith Dolphin?
The Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin was a British fighter aircraft manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It was used by the Royal Flying Corps and its successor, the Royal Air Force, during the First World War.
What kind of engine does a Sopwith Dolphin have?
Powered by 300hp Hispano-Suiza 8F direct-drive engines, these were designated Sopwith Dolphin Mk IIs. They also incorporated adjustable tailplanes and additional strengthening to allow for the increase in power.
Why did the Sopwith Dolphin have two-bay wings?
The span of the Sopwith Dolphin’s wings was increased beyond that of its predecessor, the Sopwith Camel A two-bay wing configuration was adopted and was used to provide great structural strength without significantly increasing the aircraft’s weight.
When did the Sopwith Dolphin enter service?
The Sopwith Dolphin entered service with the Royal Flying Corps in early 1918, although its unusual shape led to numerous early ‘friendly fire’ incidents with Allied pilots mistaking it for a new German type.