Sopwith Camel

Fighter Aircraft Role

Crew 1 pilot

Engine
Gnome 9 engine 151 hp rotary engine

Dimensions

Wingspan 8.5 m

Length 5.72m

Height 2.59m

Wing area 21.45 m²

Masses

Empty 421 kg

With armament 659 kg

Performance
Maximum speed 185 km/h
(Mach 0.15)

Design

The Sopwith Camel was a British fighter aircraft of the First World War. The Sopwith Camel was surely the best aircraft built by the Sopwith design office. About 6,000 Sopwith Camels were produced from December 22, 1916.

The engine was a 150 horsepower (110 kW) 9-cylinder rotary Gnome. It was armed with two Vickers .303 (7.62 mm) machine guns mounted in front of the cockpit, synchronized through the propeller and covered by a fairing, giving the hump that earned the plane its nickname of a camel. He was able to reach the speed of 185 km/h.

The gyroscopic force of the rotary engine made piloting difficult for a beginner (many died on poor landing approaches), as the aircraft was naturally unstable, requiring the airmen to compensate throughout the flight to stay stable and straight, but made it easier to turn on the rotational side of the engine (it has been said that a 270° turn to the right is more advantageous than a 90° turn to the left).
This combat agility of the Sopwith Camel gave the Allies a certain superiority in aerial combat at the end of the First World War.

Between July 4, 1917 (date of entry into the conflict) and November 11, 1918 (date of the armistice), the Sopwiths shot down 1,294 enemy aircraft.

Variants

Spowith F-1 Camel

this version may differ, except for the engine and some details

manufacturer Spowith Aviation Company
Fighter Type

Year 1917

motorization

Rotary Motor

Brand Clerget

Model 9B

Number 1

Unit power 130 hp

Total power 130 hp

Particularity Tractive propeller, in wood, 2 blades

Dimensions

Wingspan 8.53 m

Length 5.72m

Height 2.59m

Weight 659 Kg

Biplane wing feature

Performance

Speed 185 Km/h

Ceiling 5,791 m

Autonomy 2.5 hours

Armament

Internal armament 2 machine guns