Sopwith Swallow
Sopwith Aviation Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1918 · fighter
The Sopwith Swallow was a British parasol-wing fighter of the First World War. A single example was built and it offered no performance advantage over contemporary biplanes.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Parasol monoplane wing mounted high above the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Parasol monoplane wing mounted high above the fuselage
- Camel fuselage with a Le Rhône rotary engine
- Two synchronised Vickers machine guns
A Camel-fuselage parasol monoplane with a larger, slightly swept wing mounted high above the fuselage, a 110 hp Le Rhone engine and two synchronised Vickers guns.
Specifications
- The Sopwith Swallow has a length of 5.72 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.79 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 183 km/h (114 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It grew out of the Sopwith Monoplane No. 1, or Scooter, a parasol derivative of the Camel flown in June 1918. The Swallow first flew in October 1918 and was delivered to Martlesham Heath on 28 October 1918.
Variants
It used a Camel fuselage with a larger, slightly swept wing of greater span, mounted higher to give the pilot access to the guns.
Where you'll see it
It proved to have lower performance than Le Rhône-powered Camels and was discarded soon after testing was completed in May 1919. One possible role was as a shipboard fighter.
Related aircraft
- Sopwith 2FR.2 Bulldog
- Sopwith Buffalo
- Sopwith Dragon
- Sopwith Snail
- Adamoli-Cattani Fighter
- AEG DJ.I
- AEG J.II
- Albatros C.XIV
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