Sopwith Camel

The Sopwith Camel was an agile, highly maneuverable plane and was the top fighter of Allied forces in World War I. It got its name from the "hump" in the fuselage which enclosed the guns.

The Camel was a difficult plane to fly because the engine developed such high torque that the plane tended to pull to the right until it reached cruising speed, making take-offs and landings hazardous. Nearly as many pilots died from accidents as died in combat while flying the plane.

The 17th Aero Squadron of the American Expeditionary Forces was attached to a British Squadron. This plane carries the markings of the British No. 41 Squadron but with American roundels.

This aircraft was also flown by:
  Belgium
  Great Britain
  Greece
Specifications
Country of Manufacture Great Britain
First Year of Service 1917
Wing Span 28 ft | 8.6 m
Length 18.7 ft | 5.7 m
Height 8.5 ft | 2.6 m
Weight 1422lbs | 646 kg
Engine 9 cylinder air-cooled rotary engine, 130hp
Top Speed 118 mph | 189 km/h
Range 217 miles | 350 km
Armament 2 machine guns
Crew 1

 


Notes:
Technical Notes:
Made with Autodesk 3D Studio Max - Airplane not including background, 42478 vertices, 52941 faces - All aircraft insignia are modeled as part of the mesh.
Historical Notes:
The instruments and gun triggers in the cockpit are conjecture.
References:
http://www.theaerodrome.com/aircraft/gbritain/sopwith_camel.php
http://aviastar.org/air/england/sopwith_camel.php
http://www.cbrnp.com/profiles/quarter1/barkers-camel.htm