Sopwith Triplane
Sopwith Aviation Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · fighter
The Sopwith Triplane was a British single-seat fighter triplane — in fact a triplane — that entered RNAS service in late 1916 and proved highly manoeuvrable, directly inspiring the German Fokker Dr.I. It was a compact, nimble design that dominated for a brief period over the Western Front.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.74 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three equal narrow-chord wings in triplane layout
- Single Clerget or Le Rhône rotary engine
- RNAS markings; forerunner to the Fokker Dr.I
Three narrow-chord equal-span wings stacked vertically with minimal gap between them, a rotary engine, and a small compact fuselage. The triplane configuration is unmistakable and unique among First World War Allied fighters.
Specifications
- The Sopwith Triplane has a length of 5.74 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.08 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 188 km/h (117 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Herbert Smith at Sopwith, the Triplane entered service with RNAS squadrons and proved so effective that German command ordered several manufacturers to develop triplane fighters in response, culminating in the Fokker Dr.I. It was replaced in service by the Sopwith Camel in 1917.
Variants
Most Triplanes were broadly similar; a two-seat version was proposed but not produced. Some aircraft were fitted with twin Vickers guns late in their service.
Where you'll see it
Original Triplanes survive at the RAF Museum (N5912) and at Monino in Russia, and the Shuttleworth Collection flies its faithful reproduction "Dixie II" at Old Warden.
Related aircraft
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