Time Period: Pre-WW1
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Biplane, General Purpose Aircraft
Manufacturer: Sopwith Aviation Company
Sopwith Three-Seater Aircraft Overview
The Sopwith Three-Seater was a British aircraft designed and built by the Sopwith Aviation Company during World War I. It was a single-engine, two-bay biplane with a crew of three: a pilot, an observer/gunner, and a rear gunner.
The Sopwith Three-seater was primarily designed for reconnaissance and artillery spotting, but it was also used as a bomber and ground-attack aircraft. It was armed with two forward-firing Vickers machine guns operated by the pilot, and a single Lewis machine gun mounted on a Scarff ring for the rear gunner.
The aircraft was powered by a variety of engines, including the 130 hp Clerget 9B rotary engine, which gave it a top speed of around 150 km/h (93 mph) and a ceiling of 3,500 meters (11,500 feet).
The Sopwith Three-seater was widely used by the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service during World War I, particularly on the Western Front. It was used in a variety of roles, including reconnaissance, artillery spotting, bombing, and ground-attack. Despite being a successful design, it was eventually replaced by newer aircraft designs towards the end of the war.
Overall, the Sopwith Three-seater was a reliable and versatile aircraft that played an important role in the early years of air warfare.
Sopwith Three-Seater Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)
- Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)
- Wing area: 397 sq ft (36.9 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,060 lb (481 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,810 lb (821 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Gnome rotary engine, 80 hp (60 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed 2600D Chauviere, 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) diameter.
Sopwith Three-SeaterPerformance
- Maximum speed: 74 mph (119 km/h, 64 kn)
- Endurance: 2.5 hr
- Service ceiling: 12,900 ft (3,900 m) with one passenger
- Time to altitude: 2.5 min to 1,000 ft (300 m).
