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| The Sopwith Triplane was used in combat by the Royal Naval
Air Service. The stack of three wings reduced wingspan and increased wing area making it
handle and climb better than biplanes. Visibility from the cockpit was outstanding but the
"Tripe" was slower and less heavily armed than it's German opponents.
The Germans were impressed with its performance and a captured Triplane inspired the
development of the Fokker DR.I. The Triplane
was eventually withdrawn from service and replaced with the Sopwith
Camel. The "Black Flight,"
commanded by Canadian ace Raymond Collishaw,
shot down 87 German aircraft in three months while flying the Sopwith Triplane. Downing 33
enemy aircraft, Collishaw scored more victories with this plane than any other ace. |
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| "Of all machines, the Triplane remains in my memory
as the best . . . Other machines were faster, stronger, had better climb or vision; but
none was so friendly as the Tripe." Cecil Lewis, English ace |
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| Royal
Naval Air Service: |
1N, 8N, 9N, 10N, 11N |
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| Country: |
Great Britain |
| Manufacturer: |
Sopwith Aviation Company |
| Type: |
Fighter |
| First
Introduced: |
November 1916 |
| Number Built: |
152 |
| Engines: |
Clerget 9Z, 9 cylinder, rotary, 110 hp [82
kw]
Clerget 9B, rotary, 130 hp [96 kw]
Le Rh?e, 9 cylinder, 110 hp [82 kw] |
| Wing Span: |
26 ft 6 in [8.07 m] |
| Length: |
18 ft 10 in [5.73 m] |
| Height: |
10 ft 6 in [3.20 m] |
| Empty Weight: |
1,101 lb [499 kg] |
| Gross Weight: |
1,541 lb [698 kg] |
| Max Speed: |
117 mph [188 km/h] |
| Ceiling: |
20,500 ft [6,248 m] |
| Endurance: |
2? hours |
| Crew: |
1 |
| Armament: |
1 synchronized Vickers .303 machine gun
(a handful were equipped with twin machine guns) |
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Copyright ? 1997-2002
Page revised on 09 January 2005
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![Sopwith Triplane [Great Britain]](../../../images/aircraft/gbritain/triplane.gif){kind=small}
