Sopwith 2B2 Rhino
Sopwith Aviation Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1917 · bomber
The Sopwith 2B2 Rhino was a British two-seat triplane bomber built by Sopwith as a private venture. Only two were built and the type did not enter production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Deep fuselage containing an internal bomb bay |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay tractor triplane with ailerons on all three wings
- Deep fuselage containing an internal bomb bay
- Radiators on each side of the fuselage
It is a single-bay tractor triplane with ailerons on all three wings and a deep fuselage. A 230 hp inline engine drives a two-bladed propeller and is cooled by radiators on each side of the fuselage.
Specifications
- The Sopwith 2B2 Rhino has a length of 8.43 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.06 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 166 km/h (103 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Sopwith prepared the design in mid-1917 to no official specification. The first prototype made its maiden flight at Brooklands in October 1917.
Variants
The second prototype differed in having the pillar mounting for the observer's gun replaced by a Scarff ring.
Where you'll see it
Official testing at Martlesham Heath in February and March 1918 found the performance unimpressive, with a poor ceiling and low speed, and the Rhino was rejected. The two aircraft were then used as testbeds for propeller development.
Related aircraft
- Sopwith 3F.2 Hippo
- Sopwith B.1
- Sopwith Cuckoo
- Sopwith Dolphin
- Airco DH.9
- Albatros C.VIII
- Albatros J.I
- Albatros W.5
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.