I think all WW1 fighter pilots both British and German all must possess Balls of Steel when somersaulting and barrel rolling in the air. Really, their bravery can put today's fighter pilots on more sophisticated jet planes to shame
+Stella Wong And several replicas, one or two of which are technically rebuilds, if you stretch the definition as far as it was stretched for those FW-190's
is it ok to do what you did but standing near the foot path behind it all taking pictures? or at least get up close to them but not damaging and taking things? I want to record up there and see history. thx
Sopwith Camel had a 130HP Clerget 9b rotary piston engine and only weighed 1,450LBS loaded, had a climb rate of 1,000FPM, service sealing of 20,000FT, top speed of 115MPH, and could turn on a dime. It had almost every advantage agents the Albatros D.III particularly in agility, plenty of power and would just about climb itself, no trouble flying at all. The part that made the Camel hard to fly was its Gyroscopic effect caused by the rotating mass of the engine, something that took a experience pilot to compensate for, in addition it was a very unstable aircraft and very responsive which wasn't necessarily a good combination with the gyro, and could be throttled by adjusting air fuel mixture but seldom done because it was a tedious process so more often than not the pilot used the blip switch to control engine speed and kept the air fuel mixture set for max power. sadly most young men thrown into the cockpit and into combat with one hardly had the experience to take it off the ground let alone go into a dogfight with it, more camels were lost to takeoffs and landings than shot down. This model appears to be fitted with a Radial engine, there is a flying replica built in New Zealand powered by a 160HP Gnome, some were equipped with those engines, but most common was the 130HP Clerget 9B and the best was the 150HP Bentley BR1
As with Justin S., I was going to say that the Camel had lots of power, comparatively. The Pup, which was lighter, had an 80 hp rotary engine. That airplane was beloved of pilots more than the Camel, which killed novice pilots, as 13aceofspades13, says, above.
Wow! Amazing sight! I'd love to visit some airshows, but I don't get to travel much. It would be an amazing experience to see aircraft both from the modern world along with those straight out of a history book.
Actually, there is only one original Sopwith Camel that has been restored to flying condition in Califonia, but there are several replicas such as this one. I love to see replicas being made and flown. Save the originals in museums especially for future generations and Wingnut Wing's Model Company owned by Peter Jackson for accurate model kits.
The only flyable Sopwith Camel in the WORLD is B6291 owned by the Javier Arango Collection in Paso Robles California. The other five non-flying Camels are in various Museums. This replica looks nothing like B6291.
I do not appreciate being called names. I am an ace. I flew P-51s and P-80s. I've seen crashes, most from pilot error, because they are not used to the planes they are flying. How do you gain experience when there is only one of a kind? There are no more Fokker Dr-1s or Nieuport 17s left, neither flyable nor non-flyable. If I'm an idiot and I am wrong, that Camel will be around for future generations. If I am right, it will crash in just a couple years. I truly do hope I am an idiot and wrong.
Yesh....just checked this. It's Bianchi aviation's replica... Scarab engined RADIAL. Ok...can we all agree it's a replica and the journalist is wrong...not original...not correct engine. Ok?
Hmmmm...interestingly I saw this very aircraft in a hanger in Buckinghamshire in the U.K. It is indeed a radial, not a rotary and if I am not mistaken is only about ten years old. RU-vid the Stella Artois advert...it's that one i think. I spoke to the owner too. Nice...but not original. As for the rotting Camel refered to down below somewhere your man has mistaken another film prop. It's in Australia outside a military museum. It is privately owned and the owner won't fix it up!
This type of rotary engine is also a radial. In fact, the very first radials were designed to rotate, as integral parts of early motorcycle wheels before airplanes ever flew. The "motorwheel" concept. The term "radial" refers to the way in which the cylinders are mounted "radially" around the crankcase. So, what we really have is "fixed radial" and "rotary radial." Commonly, it is understood that an early aircraft rotary engine is a spinning radial, but it is incorrect to say that a rotary engine is not a radial. All engines with cylinders mounted this way are radials.
agreed, if you compare it to other replicas (videos on youtube) equipped with the Authentic Rotary engine.. it does in fact sound like radial in this video. The airframe by be authentic but me thinks its using a Radial engine.
Just a few years ago, there were 6 flying B-24s, now there is only one left. Instead of trying to save that one, they are still flying it. I consider that stupidity. When that crashes from metal fatigue and stress, there will be none left for future generations to see. Experienced pilots during WW1, who only flew Rotary Engine planes, crashed. I would not be excited to see someone flying the last of it's kind, I would be worried. All these owners want to do is make money at air shows.
At the Shuttleworth Collection in England, they fly all of their planes. Many of them need to have repairs, but these machines had things repaired and replaced when they were flying. You replace fatigued metal, cracked wood, etc on a regular basis. Still, I agree that we should keep a couple of the time in original condition so we know exactly what they were at the time. But birds are made to fly.
I had the privilege of flying into this place earlier today. Absolutely wonderful experience. Except for the modern aircraft parked up outside the ready room, and modern cars in the car park, it could have been 1918. A truly wonderful experience not to be found anywhere else.
@ChicaWolverina where you talking about? this is an original ww1 plane.. not reproduction.. and what is wrong with flyign a reproduction? you know how happy i could be if i actually have the option to evver fly 1? go troll somehwere else >:C
@cobrachoppergirl Hard to believe someone with your moniker would even know a Camel to lay eyes on it. Do the vintage aircraft fraternity a huge service and divulge the location of what would surely be a major find. If it is indeed a real Camel. Stranger things have happened, I must admit.
I know where a Sopwith Camel is just sitting out in the weather rotting away. Very sad. I'd like to shoot the guy. A World War 1 plane rotting away out in the weather. Unfortunately i don't have the money to save it and its thousands of miles away from me. And its probably not for sale. I wish I could raise enough money just to send the guy to build a tin shed at least over it to protect it from the elements.
