| 词条 | Sopwith Triplane | |||||||||||||||||
| 释义 |
The Sopwith Triplane was a British single seat fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company during the First World War. It was the first military triplane to see operational service. The Triplane joined Royal Naval Air Service squadrons in early 1917 and was immediately successful. It was nevertheless built in comparatively small numbers and was withdrawn from active service as Sopwith Camels arrived in the latter half of 1917. Surviving Triplanes continued to serve as operational trainers until the end of the war. Design and developmentThe Triplane began as a private venture by the Sopwith Aviation Company. The fuselage and empennage closely mirrored those of the earlier Pup, but chief engineer Herbert Smith gave the new aircraft three narrow-chord wings to provide the pilot with an improved field of view. Ailerons were fitted to all three wings. By using the variable incidence tailplane, the aircraft could be trimmed to fly hands-off.[2] The introduction of a smaller 8 ft span tailplane in February 1917 improved elevator response.[3] The Triplane was initially powered by the 110 hp Clerget 9Z nine-cylinder rotary engine, but most production examples were fitted with the 130 hp Clerget 9B rotary. At least one Triplane was tested with a 110 hp Le Rhône rotary engine, but this did not provide a significant improvement in performance. The initial "prototype of what was to be referred to simply as the Triplane" first flew on 28 May 1916, with Sopwith test pilot Harry Hawker at the controls.[4] Within three minutes of takeoff, Hawker startled onlookers by looping the aircraft, serial N500, three times in succession.[5] The Triplane was very agile, with effective, well-harmonised controls.[6] When maneuvering, however, the Triplane presented an unusual appearance. One observer noted that the aircraft looked like "a drunken flight of steps" when rolling.[7] In July 1916, N500 was sent to Dunkirk for evaluation with "A" Naval Squadron, 1 Naval Wing. It proved highly successful. The second prototype, serial N504, was fitted with a 130 hp Clerget 9B. N504 first flew in August 1916 and was eventually sent to France in December.[8] This aircraft served as a conversion trainer for several squadrons.[9] ProductionBetween July 1916 and January 1917, the Admiralty issued two contracts to Sopwith for a total of 95 Triplanes, two contracts to Clayton & Shuttleworth Ltd. for a total of 46 aircraft, and one contract to Oakley & Co. Ltd. for 25 aircraft.[10] Seeking modern aircraft for the Royal Flying Corps, the War Office also issued a contract to Clayton & Shuttleworth for 106 Triplanes.[11] In February 1917, the War Office agreed to exchange its Triplane orders for the Admiralty's SPAD S.VII contracts.[11][12] Production commenced in late 1916. Sopwith and Clayton & Shuttleworth completed their RNAS production orders,[10] but Oakley, which had no prior experience building aircraft, delivered only three Triplanes before its contract was cancelled in October 1917.[13][14] For unknown reasons, the RFC Triplane contract issued to Clayton & Shuttleworth was simply cancelled rather than being transferred to the RNAS.[11] Total production amounted to 147 aircraft.[1][12] Operational historyNo. 1 Naval Squadron became fully operational with the Triplane by December 1916, but the squadron did not see any significant action until February 1917, when it relocated from Furnes to Chipilly.[15] No. 8 Naval Squadron received its Triplanes in February 1917.[16] Nos. 9 and 10 Naval Squadrons equipped with the type between April and May 1917.[17] The only other major operator of the Triplane was a French naval squadron based at Dunkirk, which received 17 aircraft.[18]The Triplane's combat debut was highly successful. The new fighter's exceptional rate of climb and high service ceiling gave it a marked advantage over the Albatros D.III, though the Triplane was slower in a dive.[19] The Germans were so impressed by the performance of the Triplane that it spawned a brief triplane craze among German aircraft manufacturers. Their efforts resulted in no fewer than 34 different prototypes, including the Fokker V.4, prototype of the successful Fokker Dr.I.[20] Pilots nicknamed the aircraft the Tripehound or simply the Tripe.[21] The Triplane was famously flown by "B" Flight 10 Naval Squadron, better known as "Black Flight". This all-Canadian flight was commanded by the ace Raymond Collishaw. Their aircraft, named Black Maria, Black Prince, Black George, Black Death and Black Sheep, were distinguishable by their black-painted fins and cowlings.[7] Black Flight claimed 87 German aircraft in three months while equipped with the Triplane. Collishaw scored 34 of his eventual 60 victories in the aircraft, making him the top Triplane ace.[22] Withdrawal from serviceThe Triplane's combat career was comparatively brief, in part because the Triplane proved difficult to repair. The fuel and oil tanks were inaccessible without dismantling the wings and fuselage. Even relatively minor repairs had to be made at rear echelon repair depots. Spare parts became difficult to obtain during the summer of 1917, resulting in the reduction of No. 1 Naval Squadron's complement from 18 to 15 aircraft.[23] The Triplane also gained a reputation for structural weakness because the wings of some aircraft collapsed in steep dives. This defect was attributed to the use of light gauge bracing wires in the 46 aircraft built by subcontractor Clayton & Shuttleworth.[24] Several pilots of No. 10 Naval Squadron used cables or additional wires to strengthen their Triplanes.[24] In 1918, the RAF issued a technical order for the installation of a spanwise compression strut between the inboard cabane struts of surviving Triplanes. One aircraft, serial N5912, was fitted with additional mid-bay flying wires on the upper wing while used as a trainer. Another drawback of the Triplane was its light armament.[25] Contemporary Albatros fighters were armed with two guns but most Triplanes carried one synchronised Vickers machine gun. Efforts to fit twin guns to the Triplane met with mixed results. Clayton & Shuttleworth built six experimental Triplanes with twin guns.[12] Some of these aircraft saw combat service with Nos. 1 and 10 Naval Squadrons in July 1917 but performance was reduced and the single gun remained standard.[26] Triplanes built by Oakley would have featured twin guns, an engineering change which severely delayed production.[27] In June 1917, No. 4 Naval Squadron received the first Sopwith Camels and the advantages of the sturdier, better-armed fighter quickly became evident. Nos. 8 and 9 Naval Squadrons re-equipped with Camels between early July and early August 1917.[28] No. 10 Naval Squadron converted in late August, turning over its remaining Triplanes to No. 1 Naval Squadron.[29] No. 1 operated Triplanes until December, suffering heavy casualties as a consequence.[30] By the end of 1917, surviving Triplanes were used as advanced trainers with No. 12 Naval Squadron.[31] Operators
Survivors and modern reproductions
Specifications (Clerget 9B-engined variant){{Aircraft specifications|plane or copter?=plane |jet or prop?=prop |ref=British Aeroplanes 1914–18[39] |crew=1 |length main=18 ft 10 in |length alt=5.73 m |span main=26 ft 6 in |span alt=8 m |height main=10 ft 6 in |height alt=3.2 m |area main=231 ft² |area alt=21.46 m² |empty weight main=1,101 lb |empty weight alt=500 kg |loaded weight main=1,541 lb |loaded weight alt=700 kg |max takeoff weight main= |max takeoff weight alt= |engine (prop)=Clerget 9B |type of prop=rotary engine |number of props=1 |power main=130 hp |power alt=97 kW |max speed main=117 mph |max speed alt=187 km/h |max speed more=at 5,000 ft (1,830 m) |range main=321 mi |range alt=516 km |endurance=2 hrs 45 min |ceiling main=20,500 ft |ceiling alt=6,250 m |loading main=6.13 lb/ft² |loading alt=29.92 kg/m² |more performance=*Time to 6,000 ft (1,830 m): 5 min 50 s
|guns=1× .303 in Vickers machine gun }} See also
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|see also=
|lists= }} ReferencesNotes1. ^1 Bowers and McDowell 1993, p. 63. 2. ^Franks 2004, pp. 19, 66. 3. ^Cooksley 1991, p. 23. 4. ^Green and Swanborough 2001, p. 534 5. ^Robertson 1970, p. 59. 6. ^Franks 2004, p. 19. 7. ^1 Connors 1975, p. 50. 8. ^Franks 2004, p. 50. 9. ^Franks 2004, p. 50. 10. ^1 Davis 1999, pp. 70–71. 11. ^1 2 Davis 1999, p. 72. 12. ^1 2 Mason 1992, p. 61. 13. ^Davis 1999, p. 76. 14. ^Robertson 1970, p. 157. 15. ^Franks 2004, p. 9. 16. ^Franks 2004, p. 22. 17. ^ Franks 2004, pp. 54, 68. 18. ^ Franks 2004, pp. 62–63. 19. ^Franks 2004, pp. 21, 69. 20. ^Kennett 1991, p. 98, 21. ^Bowers and McDowell 1993, p. 62. 22. ^Franks 2004, p. 68. 23. ^Lamberton 1960, p. 74. 24. ^1 Franks 2004, p. 76. 25. ^Franks 2004, p. 69. 26. ^ Franks 2004, pp. 13, 69. 27. ^Robertson 1970, p. 157. 28. ^Franks 2004, pp. 46, 49, 56–57. 29. ^Franks 2004, p. 76. 30. ^Franks 2004, p. 17. 31. ^Davis 1999, p. 75. 32. ^{{cite web|title=SOPWITH TRIPLANE|url=http://www.thehangarmuseum.ca/exhibits/sopwith-triplane|website=The Hangar Flight Museum|publisher=The Hangar Flight Museum|accessdate=13 May 2017}} 33. ^Bruce 1990, p. 19. 34. ^{{cite web|title=Sopwith Triplane|url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/sopwith-triplane|website=Royal Air Force Museum|publisher=Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum|accessdate=13 May 2017}} 35. ^{{cite web|last1=Simpson|first1=Andrew|title=INDIVIDUAL HISTORY [N5912]|url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/74-A-19-Sopwith-Triplane-N5912.pdf|website=Royal Air Force Museum|publisher=Royal Air Force Museum|accessdate=13 May 2017|date=2013}} 36. ^Hiscock 1994, p. 30. 37. ^{{cite web|title=SOPWITH TRIPLANE|url=http://www.shuttleworth.org/collection/sopwithtriplane|website=Shuttleworth|publisher=Shuttleworth|accessdate=13 May 2017}} 38. ^{{cite web|title=GINFO Search Results [G-BOCK]|url=https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?appid=1&mode=detailnosummary&fullregmark=BOCK|website=Civil Aviation Authority|accessdate=13 May 2017}} 39. ^Bruce 1957, p. 568. Bibliography{{refbegin}}
External links{{commons category}}
6 : British fighter aircraft 1910–1919|Military aircraft of World War I|Triplanes|Sopwith aircraft|Aircraft first flown in 1916|Rotary-engined aircraft |
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