Sopwith Dolphin

Sopwith Dolphin
Paese	Regno unito
Ruolo	Combattente
Prima mosca	23 maggio 1917
Costruito	2072

Le Sopwith 5F.1 Delfino era un aereo da caccia britannico prodotto dalla Sopwith Aviation Company. Fu utilizzato dal Royal Flying Corps e dal suo successore, la Royal Air Force, durante la prima guerra mondiale. Il Dolphin entrò in servizio sul fronte occidentale all'inizio del 1918 e dimostrò di essere un formidabile combattente. L'aereo non fu conservato nell'inventario del dopoguerra e fu ritirato poco dopo la guerra.

fonte: Sopwith Dolphin su Wikipedia

Sopwith Dolphin Cammina
Fotografo	Inconsapevole
Localizzazione	Inconsapevole
Foto	15

Sopwith Dolphin 1

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Sopwith Dolphin 8

Sopwith Dolphin 9

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General Characteristics

The Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin was a British fighter aircraft used by the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during the final stages of World War I. Designed to excel at high altitudes, the Dolphin featured a unique wing arrangement known as “negative stagger,” where the upper wing was set back behind the lower wing. This, along with the pilot’s head protruding slightly through the upper wing’s center section, provided exceptional upward visibility, though it was initially unpopular with pilots who feared injury in a crash.

Property	Typical Value (Dolphin Mk I)
Ruolo	Single-Seat Fighter Biplane
Produttore	Sopwith Aviation Company
First Flight	May 23, 1917
In servizio	February 1918 – Post-War
No. Built	Approx. 2,072 (Total orders)
Equipaggio	1 (Pilot)
Lunghezza	6.78 m (22 ft 3 in)
Apertura alare	9.91 m (32 ft 6 in)
Max Takeoff Weight	890 kg (1,959 lb)

Design and Powerplant

Engine: One Hispano-Suiza 8B 8-cylinder, water-cooled V-8 engine (typically geared).
Power Output: 149 kW (200 hp).
Construction: Conventional wooden airframe with fabric covering.
Engine Issues: A major drawback was the unreliability of the geared Hispano-Suiza engine, particularly the reduction gearing built by some subcontractors, which limited the Dolphin’s service readiness.
Visibility: The innovative cockpit design placed the pilot’s head high, providing excellent upward and forward visibility, crucial for high-altitude combat.

Performance and Armament

Maximum Speed: Up to 211 km/h (131 mph, 114 knots) at sea level.
Service Ceiling: 6,100 m (20,000 ft).
Climb Rate: Approximately 10 minutes 20 seconds to reach 3,048 m (10,000 ft).
Standard Armament: Two fixed, synchronized 7.7 mm (.303 in) Vickers machine guns mounted in the forward fuselage.
Additional Armament: Provision for one or two Lewis guns mounted on the upper wing center section, firing upwards over the propeller arc. These guns were often removed by pilots to improve performance and safety.
Ordnance: Could carry up to four 11 kg (25 lb) Cooper bombs for ground attack roles.
Combat Role: It was a fast and maneuverable fighter, particularly effective in high-altitude engagements against German reconnaissance aircraft.