Sopwith Triplane

Sopwith Triplane

Country: UK

Type: Fighter

Manufacturer: Sopwith

Service: 1916 - 1918

First Flight: 28 May 1916

Production: 147

The Sopwith Triplane was a British single seat fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War. Pilots nicknamed it the Tripehound or simply the Tripe. The Triplane was built in comparatively small numbers, but the Royal Naval Air Service successfully employed it until Sopwith Camels arrived in the fall of 1917. The Triplane continued to serve as a trainer until the end of the war.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ( Triplane)

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 18 ft 10 in (5.73 m)
Wingspan: 26 ft 6 in (8 m)
Height: 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m)
Wing area: 231 ft (21.46 m)
Empty weight: 993 lb (450 kg)
Loaded weight: 1,415 lb (642 kg)
Powerplant: 1 x Clerget 9B rotary engine, 130 hp (96 kw)

Performance

Maximum speed: 117 mph (187 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,830 m)
Range: 280 mi (450 km)
Service ceiling 20,500 ft (6,250 m)
Wing loading: 6.13 lb/ft (29.92 kg/m)

Endurance: 2 hrs 45 min

Time to altitude: 6.33 min to 6,500 ft (1,980 m)