Airdrome Sopwith Camel
| Airdrome Sopwith Camel | |
|---|---|
| Role | Amateur-built aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Airdrome Aeroplanes |
| Status | In production (2011) |
| Number built | 1 (2011) |
| Unit cost |
US$13,495 (kit less engine and instruments, 2011) |
| Developed from | Sopwith Camel |
The Airdrome Sopwith Camel is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Airdrome Aeroplanes, of Holden, Missouri. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]
The aircraft is a full-scale replica of the First World War British Sopwith Camel fighter. The replica is built from modern materials and powered by modern engines.[1]
Design and development
The Airdrome Sopwith Camel features a strut-braced biplane layout, a single-seat open cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]
The aircraft fuselage is made from welded 4130 steel tubing, covered in doped aircraft fabric. The Airdrome Sopwith Camel has a wingspan of 26.2 ft (8.0 m) and a wing area of 195 sq ft (18.1 m2). The standard engine used is the 150 hp (112 kW) four stroke Rotec R3600 radial engine. Building time from the factory-supplied kit is estimated at 450 hours by the manufacturer.[1][2]
Operational history
One example had been completed by December 2011.[1]
Specifications (Sopwith Camel)
Data from Kitplanes[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Wingspan: 26.2 ft (8.0 m)
- Wing area: 195 sq ft (18.1 m2)
- Empty weight: 943 lb (428 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,243 lb (564 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 18 U.S. gallons (68 L; 15 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rotec R3600 nine cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke radial engine, 150 hp (110 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed wooden
Performance
- Cruise speed: 85 mph (74 kn; 137 km/h)
- Stall speed: 40 mph (35 kn; 64 km/h)
- Range: 200 mi (174 nmi; 322 km)
- Rate of climb: 675 ft/min (3.43 m/s)
- Wing loading: 6.4 lb/sq ft (31 kg/m2)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 41. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
- ↑ Airdrome Aeroplanes (n.d.). "Sopwith Camel". Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2012.