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| Sopwith
1½ Strutter |
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No.
43 Sqn RFC
Source: via LA Rogers
Image: © R. N. Pearson |
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| This single-seat Strutter was downed
and captured by the Germans during the
October 1916 raid on the Mauser Rifle
Works at Oberndorn that Ray Collishaw
participated in. The Sopwith 1½
Strutter was named that because of the
short second set of struts attaching
the upper wing to the fusilage. It was
one of the most significant military
planes of WWI. It was the first plane
designed for a synchronized machine
gun firing through the propellor and
it was the first to equip a strategic
bombing unit. It was quite advanced
for the time having a variable incident
tailplane and airbrakes on the lower
wings. It was not a fast or manoueverable
plane, but then again it was designed
as a one or two-seat bomber, not a fighting
scout. Many pilots thought that it was
a good plane to fly. By 1917 it was
the pre-emminent coastal patrol plane
and night fighter. |
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| SPECIFICATIONS |
| Country: |
Great Britain |
| Manufacturer: |
Sopwith Aviation Company |
| Type: |
Fighter - reconaissance/bombing |
| First
Service: |
1916 |
| Number
Built: |
6000 |
| Engine(s): |
Clerget 9B rotary, 110 hp or
130 hp |
| Wing Span: |
33 ft 6 in |
| Length: |
25 ft 3 in |
| Height: |
10 ft 3 in |
| Empty
Weight: |
1,305 lbs |
| Gross
Weight: |
2,150 lbs |
| Max Speed: |
106 mph |
| Ceiling: |
13,000 ft |
| Endurance: |
4.25 hours |
| Crew: |
2 |
| Armament: |
1 fixed Vickers .303 machine
gun
& one Lewis .303 machine gun
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