Sopwith Triplane
| Sopwith Triplane | |
|---|---|
|
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| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
May 28, 1916 |
| Commissioning: |
December 1916 |
The Sopwith Triplane was a British single-seat fighter of the First World War in a three-decker design . She was built by the Sopwith Aviation Company .
history
The machine was based on the Sopwith Pup . To further improve performance and maneuverability, another wing has been integrated. In May 1916 the prototype was ready.
It was introduced to the British naval aviators in November 1916 . After only one year, the aircraft were withdrawn from service and replaced by the more powerful Sopwith Camel . A total of 152 of this extremely agile fighter was built, but it showed deficiencies in terms of armament and flight characteristics. On the German side, its appearance triggered a true three-decker boom and a flood of prototypes and the Fokker Dr.I , the Albatros Dr.I or the Pfalz Dr.I were created .
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| length | 5.96 m |
| span | 8.09 m |
| Wing area | 25.4 m² |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 643 kg |
| Top speed | 186 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 6080 m |
| Climb performance | 5 m / s |
| Engines | 1 × rotary engine Clerget 9 B with 130 PS (96 kW) |
| Armament | 1 × Vickers machine gun |
Received aircraft
Only two original aircraft have survived to this day and are in museums.
- N5912 in the Royal Air Force Museum
- N5486 in the Central Museum of the Air Force of the Russian Federation
