Aircraft of the AFC page 4

Specs - Sopwith Camel
Type	fighter
Engine	130 hp Clerget
Wing Span	28 ft (8.53 m)
Length	18 ft 9 in (5.72 m)
Height	8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Max Speed	115 mph (185 kph)
Max Height	19,000 ft (5,774 m)
Endurance	2 hours 30 minutes
Armament	2 machine-guns

An agile, highly maneuverable biplane, the Sopwith Camel accounted for more aerial victories than any other Allied aircraft during World War I. Credited with destroying 1,294 enemy aircraft, it was called the Camel due to the humped fairing over its twin machine guns. Much like a real camel, this aircraft could turn and bite you. Noted for its tendency to kill inexperienced flyers, many pilots feared its vicious spin characteristics. Until sufficient speed was developed during takeoff, Camel pilots maintained full right rudder to counteract the torque the rotary engine. Failure to do so often resulted in a ground loop with the Camel crashing on its starboard wingtip. During World War I, 413 pilots died in combat and 385 pilots died from non-combat related causes while flying the Sopwith Camel.

Specs - Sopwith Snipe
Type	fighter
Engine	230 hp Bentley
Wing Span	30 ft (9.14 m)
Length	19 ft 10 in (6.05 m)
Height	9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)
Max Speed	121 mph (195 kph)
Max Height	19,500 ft (5,944 m)
Endurance	3 hours
Armament	2 machine-guns

Sopwith 1½ Strutter. The first British fighter equipped with a fixed, forward firing, synchronized machine gun, the Sopwith 1½ Strutter was built in both one and two-seater models. In the latter, the gas tank was dangerously positioned between the pilot and observer. This prompted some airmen to joke that the designer of the aircraft must surely have been German.

Other unusual features of its design were the provision of air-brakes in the trailing-edges of the lower wing-roots and a tailplane which was adjustable in flight. It was the first British aeroplane to go into action with a synchronised Vickers gun for the pilot. The observer's gun was at first carried on a Scarff pillar mounting, then on a Nieuport ring and finally on the excellent Scarff ring. With this improved armament the Strutter did well as a two-seater fighter during the late summer and autumn of 1916. It also was used for bombing, particularly by the R.N.A.S., which developed a single-seat long-range bombing version.

Some Sopwiths then were supplied to France. Compared with the Farmans and Breguet-Michelins which formed the main body of the force, they showed up to advantage, and the French decided to build the type in quantity. Unfortunately production was very slow and when the first Sopwiths reached the front in April 1917 they were quite obsolescent. There were three versions, the SOP. 1 A2 (corps two-seater), the SOP.l B2 (two-seater bomber) and the SOP. Bl (single-seater bomber), and various engines were installed; the 110, 130 and 135 h.p. Clergets, and the 80, 110 and 130 h.p. Le Rhones.

Throughout the summer and autumn of 1917 the Sopwiths equipped most of the day-bombing escadrilles; but with very feeble bomb-load and relatively weak performance. The Corps d' Armee version was more useful, but as one pilot said 'the Sopwith is a good tourer, no war-plane!' The type was withdrawn from the Western Front early in 1918, and became an operational trainer.

SOPWITH TRIPLANE was used in combat by the Royal Naval Air Service. The stack of three wings reduced wingspan and increased wing area making it handle and climb better than biplanes. Visibility from the cockpit was outstanding but the "Tripe" was slower and less heavily armed than it's German opponents.

The Germans were impressed with its performance and a captured Triplane inspired the development of the Fokker DR.I. The Triplane was eventually withdrawn from service and replaced with the Sopwith Camel.

Specs - Vickers FB5 "Gunbus"
Type	fighter
Engine	100 hp Gnome Monosoupape
Wing Span	36 ft 6 in (11.13 m)
Length	27 ft 2 in (8.2 m)
Height	11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Max Speed	70 mph (113 kph)
Max Height	9,000 ft (2,743 m)
Endurance	4 hours 30 minutes
Armament	2 machine-guns