
Sopwith 1½ Strutter | |
|---|---|
| Paese | Regno unito |
| Ruolo | Biplano aereo generico |
| Primo volo | Dicembre 1915 |
| Costruito | 4500 Francia & 1439 Gran Bretagna |
Le Sopwith 1+1⁄2 Strutter Il fu un biplano monoposto o biposto britannico della prima guerra mondiale. Fu il primo caccia trattore biposto britannico e il primo aereo britannico ad entrare in servizio con una mitragliatrice sincronizzata. Gli fu dato il nome di 1+1⁄2 Strutter a causa dei montanti lunghi e corti in cabane che sostenevano l'ala superiore. Il tipo era gestito sia dai servizi aerei britannici che era in un servizio diffuso ma poco brillante con l'Aéronautique Militaire francese.
| Sopwith 1A2 Strutter Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Inconsapevole |
| Localizzazione | Inconsapevole |
| Foto | 21 |
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General Characteristics
The Sopwith 1½ Strutter was a British single- or two-seat multi-role biplane used by the RFC and RNAS during World War I. It was highly significant as the first British aircraft to enter service with a synchronized machine gun firing through the propeller arc. It earned its unusual nickname, “1½ Strutter,” due to the configuration of the short and long cabane struts supporting the center section of the upper wing. The aircraft served in many roles, including fighter, reconnaissance, and bomber.
| Property | Typical Value (Two-Seater) |
|---|---|
| Official Designation (French) | Sopwith 1.A2 (Two-seat Reconnaissance) |
| Ruolo | Fighter, Reconnaissance, Light Bomber |
| Produttore | Sopwith Aviation Company |
| First Service | April 1916 |
| No. Built | ~6,000 (Over 4,500 licensed built in France) |
| Equipaggio | 2 (Pilot and Observer/Gunner) or 1 (Bomber version) |
| Lunghezza | 7.70 m (25 ft 3 in) |
| Apertura alare | 10.21 m (33 ft 6 in) |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 975 kg (2,150 lb) |
Powerplant and Design
- Engine: One Clerget 9B 9-cylinder air-cooled rotary engine (or Clerget 9Z or Le Rhône 9J).
- Power Output: 97 kW (130 hp) (Clerget 9B).
- Maximum Speed: Up to 171 km/h (106 mph).
- Endurance: Up to 4.25 hours.
- Innovative Features: It was one of the first aircraft to feature a variable-incidence tailplane (adjustable in flight) and airbrakes on the lower wings to aid landing.
Armament and Service
- Pilot’s Armament: 1 x 7.7 mm (.303 in) fixed, forward-firing Vickers machine gun (synchronized).
- Observer’s Armament: 1 x 7.7 mm (.303 in) flexible Lewis machine gun mounted on a Scarff ring (a new, standardized mounting).
- Bomb Load (Two-Seater): Up to 60 kg (130 lb) of bombs on underwing racks.
- Bomber Variant: The single-seat bomber version (French designation 1.B1) eliminated the observer cockpit, allowing for a larger internal bomb bay or increased fuel capacity.
- Combat History: Highly effective upon its introduction in 1916, helping to end the “Fokker Scourge.” However, its stable design and low power made it increasingly vulnerable to newer German fighters like the Albatros during “Bloody April” 1917, after which it was largely relegated to training, home defense, and shipboard duties.
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