Sopwith F.1* "Camel"

Picture 1.1: A schematic picture of "Camel"

The history

"Camel" was one of the best aircraft of World War I, among the S.E.5, and though it didn't have such impressive performance on single criteria as some other aircraft of the time, it deserves an honorable place in the aviation history.
"Camel" was the last aircraft built in large numbers in Sopwith company. It followed the "Tabloid" and "Pup" models of the same company. The "Pup", was severely under-powered with only 80 h.p., and was in urgent need of a replacement. Thus the "Camel" appeared.
Flights in those days were dangerous and the pilots were men who just wanted to fly, most of them belonged to upper classes and had a lot of money. Because of high altitude flying (in those days it was 4-5 kilometers) the pilots had to wear cotton fur-lined suits, protective glasses and helmets to protect themselves from low temperatures. In those days plane building was an empirical process and design was defined semi-experimentally, a kind of "I know that a plane with 21.5 Sq. M. of wing surface, with an engine power of 127 hp. and empty weight of 659 Kg., flies, then what on earth should prevent the same plane from flying with an engine of 140 hp., and the weight of 700 Kg.?" . Of course, the designers were very lucky if such combination worked. If it did not, then they would have to think all over again. "Camel" did not differ much from other planes. They all had many accidents, but it was a usual thing for those days. The fact that the pilot training was considered unneeded and the planes were cheap and dangerous led to the pilots' life becoming cheaper, and as the result, "Camels" was built in the awful amount of 5490 planes (just for the sake of numbers, the whole Israel Air Force today has about 300 aircraft of all kinds).

Picture 1.2: A crashed "Camel"	Picture 1.3: A "Camel" model proves that this aircraft is not forgotten

Camel's performance

"Camel" made its first flight on 7/5/1917. It, like all the planes of those days, was just a toy by modern measures, a very typical design for those-days. It was biplane* with one piston engine, with about 130 hp power. It was not large at all, and made of wood and cloth. "Camel" pilot Roy Brown shot down the best ace of war Red Baron(the most famous WWI with 80 victories, who flew a Focker Dr I "Triplane" was such successful aircraft because good combination qualities. It carried lot ammunition and it was a relatively fast and maneuverable. "Camel" was considered a dangerous foe in combat. Camels performed 1294 shot-downs during war.

Picture 1.4: A restored "Camel"	Table 1.1: A comparison of Sopwith Camel, Tabloid and Pup through their engine power (in h.p.), range (in Km.) and max. speed (in Km/h).

"Camel"'s performance sheet

Table 1.1: Camel's description and specifications.

Table 1.2: Sopwith aircraft's comparison in dimensions (meters)

Table 1.2: Camel's performance and weapons.