Sopwith Buffalo
Sopwith Aviation Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1918 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Sopwith Buffalo was a British armoured fighter/reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War. It was a single-engined biplane developed from the Sopwith Bulldog.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Armoured fuselage for low-level reconnaissance |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engined biplane
- Armoured fuselage for low-level reconnaissance
- Bentley BR.2 rotary engine
Look for a two-seat single-engined biplane with a Bentley BR.2 rotary engine, built for low-level reconnaissance.
Specifications
- The Sopwith Buffalo has a length of 7.1 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.13 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 183 km/h (114 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Buffalo first flew on 19 September 1918. It was powered by a Bentley BR.2 nine-cylinder rotary engine.
Variants
Two examples of the Buffalo were built, both as prototypes.
Where you'll see it
Sopwith built the Buffalo to carry out reconnaissance missions low over the trenches while protected against machine-gun fire from the ground. No production followed, because the end of the war removed the need for such an aircraft.
Related aircraft
- Sopwith 2FR.2 Bulldog
- Sopwith Dragon
- Sopwith Snail
- Sopwith Swallow
- Curtiss F5L
- Dayton-Wright T-4 Messenger
- Fokker C.I
- Gallaudet D-4
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