Biplane fighter SOPWITH CAMEL F.1 COBI 2987 - Great War

You know that:

• The first flight took place on 22 December 1916.
• The F. Camel was developed as a replacement for the already obsolete Sopwith machine nicknamed the Puppy.
• The aircraft development and manufacturing factory first used the space of an abandoned ice rink in Kingston.
• The Camel designation was given to the aircraft because of the arched machine gun caps on the fuselage.
• Flying the Sopwith was not easy at all as the machine was very unstable with a strong gyroscopic effect and reaction moment.
• It was said among pilots that the aircraft was as dangerous as the enemy.
• However, experienced pilots were able to exploit the imperfections, and a sharp right turn to which enemy aircraft were unable to react became notorious.
• Despite all the imperfections and rumors, the SOPWITH was the most successful of the Allied aircraft with 1,294 kills.
• The F.1 could also launch from the undercarriage of the R23 airship.
• A total of 5,597 were produced in various versions.
• The figure of the Canadian fighter ace William George Barker, whose figure is included in the package, is also interesting. 
• He got into piloting in a roundabout way, first as an observer of reconnaissance aircraft.
• W. Barker, nicknamed "Billy", casually listened to a 55-minute theoretical briefing on flying the plane, then silently stood up, walked over to the plane and took off in defiance of all regulations. From that moment on, he knew how to fly.
• Billy was not punished for his immeasurable talent.
• His disregard for regulations and zero respect for authority followed him throughout his life.

Technical parameters:

• dimensions: wingspan 8.53 m, length 5.72 m, height 2.59 m
• weight 422 kg (empty)
• power unit petrol rotary engine Clergert 9B with 97 kW
• maximum speed 183 km/h
• climb rate 5,1 m/s
• range 5800 m
• fuel tank capacity 168 l
• endurance 2 hours and 30 minutes
• armament 2 x 7.7 mm Vickers machine gun
• crew 1 person