The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world. The J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing is a two-story gallery that highlights the stories of courage, dedication, heroism and the triumph of the human spirit of those involved in fighter aviation in World War I and World War II. The second story of this wing looks at World War I. The World War I display features three Sopwith airplanes.
The Sopwith Aviation Company, founded in England in 1912 by Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch, provided more than 16,000 airplanes during World War I. In addition to the British Royal Naval Air Service, and the Royal Flying Corps, Sopwith airplanes were also used by the French, Belgian, and American forces during the war.
Sopwith Triplane (reproduction)
One pilot, on seeing the Sopwith Triplane for the first time, described it as “an intoxicated flight of stairs.” However, the plane could turn around in a short period of time, an advantage in an aerial dogfight. Another British World War I pilot writes:
“When those Tripes want to go us they go up, and leave us down below as if we had anchors on our tails.”
According to the display:
“German flyers noted critical differences between the ‘Tripes” and the biplanes they were accustomed to tangling with. A ‘three-winger’ could turn around—and bring its gun to bear—in a starlingly short time. And if things got too rough, a Triplane flyer went up, and up, and up! And no one could follow him.”
The 1916 Sopwith Triplane had a service ceiling of 20,500 feet and a top speed of 117 mph.
Sopwith Pup (reproduction)
The Pup was light, basic, and simple. Some pilots called it “the perfect plane.” The Pup was good in an aerial dogfight and German fliers tried to avoid getting into scraps with Pups.
The Sopwith Pup had a top speed of 111 mph and a service ceiling of 18,000 feet.
Sopwith 7.F.1 Snipe (reproduction)
The Sopwith Snipe, with its 230 hp Bentley rotary engine, was designed as a replacement for the legendary Sopwith Camel. It was developed late in the War—1918—and joined two Royal Air Force squadrons and one Australian Flying Corps squadron. According to the display:
“The Snipe was not as fast as the Camel, but it climbed well and was quite strong. Both aircraft had excellent maneuverability, but compared to the Camel—which could snap into a terrifying stall or spin at the drop of a hat—the Snipe was a pussycat.”
The Snipe was used by the Royal Air Force until 1926. The Snipe had a top speed of 121 mph and a service ceiling of 19,500 feet. It carried two .303 Vickers machine guns.
More from the Museum of Flight
Museum of Flight: World War I memorabilia (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I German airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I seaplane models (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I German airplane models (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I multi-engine models (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Building early airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Some early Boeing airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Some early airplanes (photo diary)