Sopwith Snail
Sopwith Aviation Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1918 · fighter
The Sopwith 8F.1 Snail was a prototype British fighter of the First World War. It was unsuccessful and was abandoned because of an unreliable engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.79 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Small single-bay biplane
- Large cut-out in the upper wing for the pilot's head
- ABC Wasp radial engine in the nose
Armament was two synchronised Vickers guns in the fuselage and a Lewis gun above the upper wing. The pilot sat under a large cut-out in the upper wing.
Specifications
- The Sopwith Snail has a length of 5.79 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.72 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Herbert Smith designed a small single-bay biplane around the 170 hp ABC Wasp radial to meet Air Board Specification A.1A for a light fighter better than the Camel. The first prototype flew in April 1918.
Variants
The Snail Mk.II had a conventional wood and fabric fuselage; the Snail Mk.I, which followed in May, had a plywood monocoque fuselage and 22 inches of stagger.
Where you'll see it
Two prototypes were built and sent to Martlesham Heath for testing in May 1918. Performance was reasonable but handling was poor, and both were broken up for firewood in November 1919.
Related aircraft
- Sopwith 2FR.2 Bulldog
- Sopwith Buffalo
- Sopwith Dragon
- Sopwith Swallow
- Adamoli-Cattani Fighter
- AEG DJ.I
- AEG J.II
- Albatros C.XIV
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