History
The Sopwith Camel is a single seat fighting scout which uses a 97 KW (130 hp) Clerget nine-cylinder air-cooled rotary piston engine. with a maximum speed of 188 Km/h (117 M.P.H) at sea level. Weighing a maximum of 659 Kg (1450 lb) the Sopwith camel was considered to be through out history the most manouverable and agile plane to grace the British Millitary. Being first introduced in 1971 as a fighter for the Royal Naval Air Service and soon afterwards for the Royal Flying Corps the Camel quickly proved its abilities at the Battle of Ypres giving it a title of being a potent pursuit craft. There are many versions of the camel which were built with different rotary engines including a night fighter edition. Camels served in several foreign air forces including those of belguim and greece as well as with the American Expeditionary force.
A notable mention also goes to the camel as it was the first scout/fighter plane to incorporate two machine guns creating a standarn in planes which went from 1915 to 1930 (15 years).
Image courtesy of Monash University http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/images/sopwith_camel_original_500.jpg
Although Camels were seen regularly during WW1 non have survived in flying condition. The only Camels to be seen in the air today are replicas like the one above.
Features
Span: 8.53 m
Length: 5.72 m
Height: 2.60 m
Wing Area: 21.46 m (squared)
Material Justification
I am currently in the middle of developing a complete 3D replica of the plane
Sources
These are the sources i have used to research this plane:
Source 1
Title: Biplanes Triplanes and Seaplanes
First Published: 2004
ISBN: 1-84013-641-3
Date Used: 30th Jan 2008
Publishers Website: www.grangebooks.co.uk
Source 2
Title: sopwith_camel_original_500.jpg
Date Used: 30th Jan 2008
Copyright: Fair Use
