Sopwith Snail
{{short description|British WW1 biplane fighter aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
|name = Snail |image = |caption = }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type = Fighter |manufacturer = Sopwith |national origin=United Kingdom |designer = |first flight = April 1918 |introduced = |introduction= |retired = |status = Prototype |primary user = |more users = |produced = |number built = 2 |unit cost = |developed from = |variants with their own articles = }} |
The Sopwith 8F.1 Snail was a prototype British Fighter aircraft of the First World War. It was unsuccessful, being abandoned due to an unreliable engine.
Development and design
The Sopwith 8F.1 Snail was designed by Herbert Smith of Sopwith Aviation Company to meet the Air Board Specification A.1A for a light fighter with superior performance to the Sopwith Camel. Herbert Smith designed a small single-bay biplane, powered by the 170 hp (127 kW) ABC Wasp radial engine. An initial order was placed on 31 October 1917 for six prototypes with a conventional wood and fabric framework structure, but this was revised in November to fit two aircraft with a plywood monocoque fuselage.Mason 1992, pp.136–137.
The first prototype, serial number C4284, with the conventional fuselage (which resulted in the designation Snail Mk.II) flew in April 1918. Its wings had slight (5 inches (127 mm)) back-stagger, with the pilot sitting under a large cut-out on the upper wing, so that his head would protrude through the cut-out. Armament was two synchronised Vickers machine guns mounted within the fuselage, and a Lewis gun mounted above the upper wing.Bruce 1969, pp.36–37. A second prototype (serial number C4288), with the monocoque fuselage (and thus designated Snail Mk. I) followed in May. As well as the fuselage, the Snail Mk.I differed as the wings, although using identical surfaces were rigged with 22 inches of conventional stagger, with the pilot's cockpit being behind the upper wings trailing edge.Bruce 1969, pp.38–39.
Both prototypes were sent to Martlesham Heath for official testing in May. Although performance was reasonable, being slightly faster than the Camel and climbing faster,Bruce 1969, p.39. handling was poor, particularly at low speed, and as with the other Wasp engined fighters built to meet Specification A.1A, the Wasp engine proved unreliable, with the competition being abandoned in October 1918. The two complete prototypes were broken up for firewood in November 1919.Bruce 1969, pp.39–40.
Specifications (Second prototype)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Bruce 1969, p.40.
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=1
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=19
|length in=0
|span m=
|span ft=25
|span in=4
|height m=
|height ft=8
|height in=3
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=250
|wing area note=Bruce 1957, pp. 624–625.
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=1390
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=1920
|gross weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=ABC Wasp
|eng1 type=seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=170
|prop blade number=
|prop name=
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop note=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=124.5
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at {{convert|10000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|time to altitude=
- 9 min 55 sec to {{convert|10000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
- 19 min 55 sec to {{convert|15000|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|guns= 2 × forward firing, synchronised .303 in Vickers machine guns and one Lewis gun above upper wing
|bombs=
|rockets=
|avionics=
}}
See also
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
{{refbegin}}
- Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.
- Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Fighters Volume Three. London:Macdonald, 1969. {{ISBN|0-356-01490-8}}.
- Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. {{ISBN|1-55750-082-7}}.
{{refend}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20111001065049/http://www.historicaircraft.org/WW1-Gallery/pages/Sopwith-Snail-3.html Snail Mk II photo]
{{Sopwith Aviation Company aircraft}}
Category:1910s British fighter aircraft
Category:Biplanes with negative stagger