Sopwith Camel
1917-1920
Front 3/4Click to expand
Most produced
The top-scoring Allied fighter of WWI with 1,294 aerial victories. Its rotary engine torque made it deadly in the right hands.
History
The Sopwith Camel was the most successful Allied fighter of World War I, credited with shooting down 1,294 enemy aircraft, more than any other type. Named for the humped fairing over its twin Vickers guns, the Camel was notoriously difficult to fly due to the gyroscopic effect of its rotary engine. This same characteristic made it supremely agile in right-hand turns. Over 5,490 were built and it served on every front. It remains one of the most celebrated fighters in aviation history, immortalized in popular culture.
Timeline
1917Enters frontline service on the Western Front, immediately proving deadly in dogfights
1918Credited with 1,294 aerial victories, more than any other Allied type in WWI
1920Retired from service
Production & Heritage
Production Total5,490
DesignerHerbert Smith
Service Period1917-1920
Technical Specifications
Engine1x Clerget 9B 9-cylinder rotary
Max Speed113 mph
Range200 nm
Ceiling19,000 ft
Crew1
Wingspan28 ft
Length18.8 ft
Empty Weight930 lbs
Max Weight1,455 lbs
Engine Details
Engine ModelClerget 9B 9-cylinder rotary
Engine Count1
Engine ManufacturerClerget
Horsepower130 hp
Performance
Rate of Climb1085 ft/min
Dimensions
Wing Area231 sq ft
Weights
Max Takeoff Weight1,455 lbs
Armament
Guns2x .303 Vickers machine guns
Capacity
Crew1
Tags
Designed by Herbert Smith
