What is a Sopwith Camel?
The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the Sopwith Pup and became one of the best known fighter aircraft of the Great War.
How effective was the Sopwith Camel in WW1?
Kill Rate The Sopwith Camel, Great Britain’s most famous fighter of World War I, was also the most effective fighter deployed by any nation in the war. Camels were used to destroy over 3,000 enemy planes – more than any other aircraft of WWI.
What type of aircraft was the Sopwith Camel?
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the earlier Sopwith Pup and became one of the best known fighter aircraft of the Great War. The Camel was powered by...
Why was the Sopwith Camel so dangerous?
The Sopwith Camel was one of the most famous and successful British scout aircraft of World War One. However, though it was an effective combat aircraft in the hands of an experienced pilot, the handling characteristics of the Camel were so challenging that a large number of pilots died just trying to keep the aircraft under control.
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What was the Sopwith Camel used for in ww1?
Home defence and night fighting. An important role for the Camel was home defence. The RNAS flew Camels from Eastchurch and Manston airfields against daylight raids by German bombers, including Gothas, from July 1917.
Was the Sopwith Camel used in ww2?
The Sopwith F I Camel, the First World War's most successful fighter, with 1,294 aircraft downed to its credit. It is generally an enlarged and modified Sopwith Pup....Specification:Sopwith Camel F1SpecificationService deliveryJune 1917Production figure5,490Enemies claimed destroyed1,29416 more rows•Feb 15, 2022
How many Sopwith Camels were shot down?
Though difficult to handle, to an experienced pilot it provided unmatched manoeuvrability. A superlative fighter, the Camel was credited with shooting down 1,294 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied fighter of the war....We're Getting Mutants in the MCU - The Loop.Sopwith CamelNumber built5,4908 more rows
Who created the Sopwith Camel?
Sopwith Aviation CompanySopwith Camel / ManufacturerThe Sopwith Aviation Company was a British aircraft company that designed and manufactured aeroplanes mainly for the British Royal Naval Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force during the First World War, most famously the Sopwith Camel. Wikipedia
How much is a Sopwith Camel worth?
Unfortunately, there are only eight surviving Sopwith Camels, none of which are for sale. They cost approximately $2,300 back in 1917, and inflation skyrockets that to around $163,000.
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.
Why does Snoopy fly a Sopwith Camel?
In the comic strip In a series of strips from June and July 1975, Snoopy rents out his Sopwith Camel to Peppermint Patty and Marcie, so that they can compete in the Powder Puff Derby.
How long could a Sopwith Camel fly?
about 2-1/2 hoursIt was usually powered by a 130-horsepower (97-kilowatt) Clerget rotary engine but sometimes used a Bentley, Gnome, or Le Rh“ne engine. It could attain a top speed of 112 miles per hour (180 kilometers per hour) and could fly 300 miles (483 kilometers) (about 2-1/2 hours) without refueling.
How do you fly a Sopwith Camel?
2:225:41Learn to fly the Sopwith Camel - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd start rolling and pitch down a little bit get this house get off the ground hold the pitchMoreAnd start rolling and pitch down a little bit get this house get off the ground hold the pitch attitude here then in about 50 miles per hour the airplanes get a lift off.
How effective was the Sopwith Camel?
The Sopwith Camel is among the most significant and famous World War I aircraft. During World War I, Camels downed 1,294 enemy aircraft, which was more than any other Allied fighter. The cowling over the two Vickers machine guns created a distinctive "hump," making the name Camel a natural choice.
When was Sopwith Camel made?
A total of 5,490 Camels were built. The Sopwith company rolled out the first Camel in December 1916. The Camel was a revolutionary machine in a number of respects.
What engine did a Sopwith Camel have?
Clerget 9Z rotary engineIt was powered by a 110 hp Clerget 9Z rotary engine. The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917.
What is the difference between a Sopwith Camel and Pup?
The Sopwith Pup entered service in 1916. Unlike the Camel, the Pup was considered to be an easy aircraft to fly but was eventually outclassed by new German fighters so that it was withdrawn from combat towards the end off 1917 when the Sopwith Camel and SE 5 became the pre-eminent British fighters.
When was Sopwith Camel made?
A total of 5,490 Camels were built. The Sopwith company rolled out the first Camel in December 1916. The Camel was a revolutionary machine in a number of respects.
How long could a Sopwith Camel fly?
about 2-1/2 hoursIt was usually powered by a 130-horsepower (97-kilowatt) Clerget rotary engine but sometimes used a Bentley, Gnome, or Le Rh“ne engine. It could attain a top speed of 112 miles per hour (180 kilometers per hour) and could fly 300 miles (483 kilometers) (about 2-1/2 hours) without refueling.
Why does Snoopy fly a Sopwith Camel?
In the comic strip In a series of strips from June and July 1975, Snoopy rents out his Sopwith Camel to Peppermint Patty and Marcie, so that they can compete in the Powder Puff Derby.
What engine did the Camel use?
The primary engine used was the 130 HP Clerget 9B, a French design produced in France and Great Britain which also saw service in the Pup and Triplane.
Why was the Camel so difficult to fly?
Rookie pilots crashed many times upon takeoff. Part of the reason was the fact that the center of gravity of the plane was very close to the nose owing to the plane’s sizeable powerplant relative to the size of the airframe.
Where is the CMF Sopwith camel?
CMF Sopwith Camel Replica. The Museum’s Sopwith Camel is often on display in the Fraser Valley. There are several questions that are often asked when the Camel is on display;
What is a camel made of?
The Camel is made of high-quality wood, covered with fabric.
Why was the Camel so difficult to fly?
Additionally, the plane’s wood and fabric construction and lack of protection for the fuel tank made the Camel (like most WWI aircraft) very susceptible to fire.
How many camels were built?
A total of 5,490 Camels were built. The Sopwith company rolled out the first Camel in December 1916. The Camel was a revolutionary machine in a number of respects. The plane’s twin Vickers machine guns were mounted side by side in front of the cockpit—a first for British fighters and a design feature that became standard on British fighters ...
Where was the Sopwith camel made?
Sopwith Camel at Air Service Production Center No. 2, Romorantin Aerodrome, France , 1918. Together, these features made the Camel unforgiving of careless trainees, and it gained a reputation for weeding them out through fatal crashes.
Which countries used the Camel?
As well as being flown by British pilots on both the Western and Eastern Fronts, the Camel was used by several other countries. America, Belgium, Canada, Greece, and Russia all made use of this fine flying machine.
What was the Sopwith design?
An Evolving Design. Sopwith had already been responsible for some of Britain’s more successful fighter planes, and the Camel built upon those designs. It was particularly influenced by the Sopwith Triplane and the Sopwith Pup, from which it most obviously descended. These were the early days of aerial combat and designers were learning lessons ...
How high can a camel climb?
The Camel could climb up to 10,000 feet in ten and half minutes, up to a maximum flight ceiling of 19,000 feet.
Why was the Camel so challenging to pilot?
The Camel was a challenging plane to pilot, for two reasons. Firstly, the controls were very sensitive by the standards of the time. This gave skilled pilots a lot more ability to achieve impressive maneuvers, but it also meant that small mistakes could have a big effect.
How fast was the Camel?
The Camel had a good turn of speed, comparable with many other late war machines. Its top speed was around 117 miles per hour.
What is the most distinctive feature of the Camel?
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.
What was the Sopwith camel?
The Sopwith Camel was a bold departure in aircraft design. No longer were its creators concerned solely with producing a docile and easy to fly aircraft. Instead, they created something that was extremely challenging to control but which provided an experienced pilot with one of the most maneuverable combat aircraft of World War One.
Why was the Sopwith Camel so dangerous?
One outcome was the Sopwith Camel but, without the aid of computers to ensure safe flying, this provided handling so extreme that it could be as dangerous as an enemy attack to its pilots.
How many Sopwith camels were built?
The Sopwith Camel entered service with the Royal Flying Corps in June 1917. In total, more than 5,000 were built. This aircraft is credited with destroying more enemy planes than any other British aircraft of World War One, but it was also responsible for killing large numbers of its pilots. The official figures are stark – 413 Camel pilots are ...
How fast is the Camel?
The powerful engine also gave the Camel a respectable top speed of around 115mph (185kmph), and its twin machine guns gave it formidable firepower.
What was the construction of the Camel?
The construction of the Camel was conventional with a wire-braced wooden framework covered with doped linen and with some light sheet metal over the nose section.
When did the two seater Camels come out?
The number of fatal accidents involving Camels became such a problem that Sopwith introduced the two-seater Camel trainer in 1918. This new version had an additional cockpit and dual controls.
What was the Sopwith Camel?
Designed by Herbert Smith, the Sopwith Camel was a follow-on aircraft to the Sopwith Pup. A largely successful aircraft, the Pup had become outclassed by new German fighters, such as the Albatros D.III, in early 1917. The result was a period known as "Bloody April," which saw Allied squadrons sustain heavy losses as their Pups, Nieuport 17s, and older aircraft were downed in large numbers by the Germans. Initially known as the "Big Pup," the Camel was initially powered by a 110 hp Clerget 9Z engine and featured a visually heavier fuselage than its predecessor.
What was the role of the Camels in the war?
An agile dogfighter, the Camel, along with the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a and the French SPAD S.XIII, played a key role in reclaiming the skies over the Western Front for the Allies. In addition to British use, 143 Camels were purchased by the American Expeditionary Force and flown by several of its squadrons.
What engine did the Camel use?
Initially known as the "Big Pup," the Camel was initially powered by a 110 hp Clerget 9Z engine and featured a visually heavier fuselage than its predecessor. This was largely composed of fabric over a wooden frame with plywood panels around the cockpit and an aluminum engine cowling.
What was the Sopwith aircraft?
The iconic Allied aircraft of World War I (1914-1918), the Sopwith Camel, entered service in mid-1917 and helped the reclaim the skies over the Western Front from the Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service). The evolution of an earlier Sopwith fighter, the Camel mounted twin-.30 cal.
How many bombs did the Camel drop?
On these missions, the aircraft typically strafed enemy positions and dropped 25-pound Cooper bombs. Replaced by the Snipe at the conclusion of World War I, the Camel downed a minimum of 1,294 enemy aircraft, making it the deadliest Allied fighter of the war.
How many aircraft were made in the 1917 Camel?
The first order for the aircraft was issued by the War Office in May 1917. Subsequent orders saw the production run total around 5,490 aircraft. During its production, the Camel was fitted with a variety of engines including the 140 hp Clerget 9Bf, 110 hp Le Rhone 9J, 100 hp Gnome Monosoupape 9B-2, and 150 hp Bentley BR1.
What countries retained the Camel?
Following the war, the aircraft was retained by several nations, including the U.S., Poland, Belgium, and Greece. In the years after the war, the Camel became entrenched in pop culture through a variety of films and books about the air war over Europe.
Where is Sopwith Camel F.1?
DAYTON, Ohio -- Sopwith Camel F.1 in the Early Years Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock) DAYTON, Ohio -- Sopwith Camel F.1 in the Early Years Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
What was the British camel's ability to shoot down?
The British Sopwith F.1 Camel shot down more enemy aircraft than any other Allied World War I fighter. Best characterized by its unmatched maneuverability, the camel was difficult to defeat in a dogfight. Tricky handling characteristics, however, made the Camel a dangerous aircraft to fly.
When did the first camel come into service?
The Camel first went into action in June 1917 with No. 4 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service where it was hailed for its superiority over German aircraft. Earning a fearsome reputation, the Camel was widely distributed through British aviation squadrons and later also equipped several U.S. Army Air Service squadrons.
Where is the Sopwith F-1 on display?
DAYTON, Ohio -- The Sopwith F-1 Camel and the Halberstadt CL IV on display in the Early Years Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ken LaRock)
What was the Sopwith Camel?
The Sopwith Camel is among the most significant and famous World War I aircraft. During World War I, Camels downed 1,294 enemy aircraft, which was more than any other Allied fighter. The cowling over the two Vickers machine guns created a distinctive “hump,” making the name Camel a natural choice. Highlighted in this image is the British roundel insignia located on the fuselage of the Sopwith Camel.
When did the Camel enter service?
The Camel entered operational service in July 1917 and remained a front-line fighter until the end of the war, with approximately 5,490 built. This example, B6291, served with No. 10 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service.
How many aircraft did the Camels down?
Camels downed 1,294 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied fighter in WWI. The cowling over the two Vickers machine guns ahead of the cockpit created a distinctive “hump,” making the name Camel a natural choice, although it was never an official military designation.
Is the Camel a good plane?
But its instability also contributed to it being agile and maneuverable, and once its tricky characteristics were mastered, the Camel was a superior fighting airplane.
What was the most significant aspect of the Sopwith Camel?
The most significant aspect of the Sopwith Camel was its concentration of all greater masses within a small section of the fuselage. Engine, guns, controls and pilot were tightly located within a mere seven feet length of fuselage – a factor which contributed greatly to the astonishing manoeuvrability of the F.1 and its later variants.
When was the first Sopwith Camel built?
On December 22nd, 1916 the first prototype Sopwith Camel F.1 was passed out of Sopwith Experimental Department, having satisfied all ground acceptance tests. It was by no means a beautiful aeroplane. Compact and snub-nosed, the little biplane seemed to exude an air of sheer aggressiveness, and was simply a highly functional design. It had been originated as a fighter and its appearance fitted the conception superbly. In construction the F.1 was in no way unusual for its period. The fuselage was a conventional wooden box-girder assembly, with a gently-rounded top decking stretching from the cockpit to the tail. The cockpit sides were ply-covered, whilst the forward engine bay was panelled in sheet aluminium. With the exceptions of the engine department and the cockpit, the remainder of the fuselage was fabric-covered. Wings and tail assemblies were of the contemporary pattern of fabric-skinned wooden structure.
How long was the Sopwith triplane in service?
The Sopwith Triplane had only been in service for six months when its replacement, the Sopwith Camel, began to arrive in service. Perhaps the most famous aircraft of World War One, the Camel was so-called because of its distinctive ‘humped’ back, and between June 1917 and November 1918 it destroyed at least 3000 enemy aircraft, a greater total than that attained by other aircraft.
CMF Sopwith Camel Replica
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Design and Development
Handling
Sopwith Camel Specifications
Production
Operational History
Other Uses
Later Service
- By mid-1918, the Camel was slowly becoming out-classed by new fighters arriving on the Western Front. Though it remained in frontline service due to development issues with its replacement, the Sopwith Snipe, the Camel was increasingly used in a ground support role. During the German Spring Offensives, Camels attacked German troops with devastating...
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