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Sopwith Dolphin Fighter Aircraft (1917)

Authored By Staff Writer | Last Updated: 5/28/2008

The Sopwith Dolphin proved to be an outstanding fighter design, providing impressive armament and an attention to pilot needs.

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The Sopwith Dolphin was yet another fighter design in the long line of Thomas Sopwith production aircraft during World War 1. The system was produced with the fighter pilot in mind and offered up an unobstructed view from out of the cockpit. This was accomplished by lowering the upper wing section of the traditional biplane assembly, allowing the pilot's head to protrude from the aircraft. The wing was basically an extension of the upper fuselage now and less a component all its own. Additionally, care was taken to provide the pilot with complimentary armament capable of engaging any enemy aircraft of the time. This would come in the form of twin 7.7mm machine guns firing forward and an additional one or two 7.7mm machine guns angled to fire forward and above. The system served - albeit with some reservation - for a time since its introduction in 1917.

The Dolphin provided a viable platform to which a fighter pilot could tally an impressive list of kills. For some, however, the system was somewhat a threat unto itself as it developed noted stalling characteristics thanks to the tail wing design. With the pilot's head protruding from the design, the aircraft was also open to lethal "nose-over" accidents in which the aircraft might flip up and over its own nose, landing square on the head and neck of the pilot. As such, a support to the upper wing section was later added to address this. In the end, the Dolphin served its purpose to a limited extent, but nevertheless became another accepted Allied fighter design to combat the Fokker Scourge.
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Specifications for the
Sopwith Dolphin
Fighter Aircraft


Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Sopwith - UK
Initial Year of Service: 1917
Production: 1,532


Focus Model: Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin
Crew: 1


Length: 22.24ft (6.78m)
Width: 32.51ft (9.91m)
Height: 8.50ft (2.59m)
Weight (Empty): 1,479lbs (671kg)
Weight (MTOW): 2,008lbs (911kg)


Powerplant: 1 x Hispano-Suiza piston engine generating 200hp.


Maximum Speed: 112mph (180kmh; 97kts)
Maximum Range: 196miles (315km)
Service Ceiling: 19,997ft (6,095m; 3.8miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 855 feet per minute (261m/min)


Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
2 x 7.7mm forward-firing fixed machine guns
1 OR 2 x 7.7mm machine gun in forward oblique angled position.


Variants:
Mk I - Initial production model


Mk II - Fitted with different powerplants; limited production variant.

Mk III - Fitted with different powerplants; limited production variant.


Operators: United Kingdom

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