Nederlandse Modelbouw en Luchtvaartsite

Dutch Modelling and Aviation

In Memoriam

Klaas Willem Jonker
(Wilko)
† April 30, 2018

On Monday 30 April 2018, Wilko Jonker died after a long illness at the age of 58. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The Dutch military aviation and plastic modeling were his hobby and on this website he shared all the knowledge he has collected over the years. His hobby has been able to distract him from the persistent disease in his body until the last week of his life. The contacts with other hobbyists were a major support for him.

This website will be maintained by different people for as long as possible, so that other enthusiasts can continue to benefit from extensive content.

Sopwith F.1 Camel

History

The Camel was developed to succeed the Sopwith Pup and made its maiden flight in December 1916.
The prototype was equipped with a 110 hp LeClerget 9Z rotary engine. The Camel had two fixed synchronized  .303 inch Vickers machine-guns.
Its nick name "Camel" referred to the double curved panel  over both machine-0guns.

The Camel was uneasy to fly with. Inexperienced pilots had great difficulties with the aircraft especially with the engine which was very difficult to handle. It's manoeuvrability was caused to the fact that engine, pilot, armament and fuel tank were concentrated in the front section of the aircraft.

In the end about 5490 examples were built with a large variety of engines:

  • 130 hp Clerget 9B (standard engine)
  • 140 hp Clerget 9Bf
  • 110 hp Le Rhône 9J
  • 150 hp Bentley BR1
  • 100 hp Gnome Monosoupape 9B-2
  • 150 hp Gnome Monosoupape 9N

 

Versions.

  • Sopwith Camel F.1: single seat fighter; main production version;
  • Sopwith Camel 2F.1: carrier aircraft; smaller wingspan; Lewis machine gun on upper wing and a 150 hp Bentley BR1;
  • Sopwith Camel "Comic" Night fighter: Pilot was moved backwards; guns were replaced with two Lewis machines guns on the upper wing.
  • F.1/1 version with tapered wings;
  • (Trench Fighter) T.F.1: experimental armoured aircraft with downward pointing machine guns for improved strafing..

 

Technical information
Dimensions:
Length: 7,01 m Wingspan: 7,82 m
Height: 3,05 m Wing area: 22,29 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 556 kg Max. start weight: 777 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 160 km/hr Rate of climb: 330 m/min
Range: 485 km Service ceiling: 6400 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: One Le Rhône 9B rated 130 hp
Crew: Two men: one aviator plus one observer/air gunner
Armament: Two synchronized fixed forward firing Vickers .303 inch machine-guns.
The Camel F.1 was a single seat fighter version of the two seat Camel.