Sopwith Triplane

The Sopwith Triplane was a revolutionary aeroplane whose goal was to improve the pilot's vision with narrow-chord wings while giving excellent maneuverability. It was regarded as slightly less nimble than the Sopwith Pup, but it had more power and better sight lines. Like the Pup, the armament was a single synchronized Vickers. While it was initially ordered for both the RFC and RNAS, the two services did some trading and sent all RNAS SPAD 7s to the RFC in exchange for all RFC triplanes. Hence, the Triplane was only flown by the RNAS.

While the prototype was tested at the front in June 1916, it wasn't until late 1916 that production machines reached units, and only in April 1917 did offensive patrols begin. The Triplane soon earned the respect of German pilots, especially in the hands of pilots like Raymond Collishaw, and the Germans soon began their own experiments to produce a nimble triplane. In February 1917 a new smaller tailplane was introduced, which improved the triplane's responsiveness.

The Triplane's lifetime was fairly brief, though: by late autumn 1917 the Triplanes had been traded in for better-armed Sopwith Camels. In October, only one squadron was still equipped with Triplanes.

Card Links

 * Naval 1 - Watson
 * 9th RNAS - Culling
 * 9th RNAS - Culling
 * Naval 10 - Alexander
 * Naval 10 - Collishaw
 * Naval 10 - Nash
 * Naval 10 - Reid
 * Naval 10 - Sharman
 * Novelty Roundel
 * Soviet WPAF
 * 358 Sqn - Rutkowski

Aircraft Chart

1:144 Scale

 * Ares: WGF111A Collishaw; WGF111B Dallas; WGF111C Little
 * Shapeways: Decapod, Kampfflieger, K (Hispano-Suiza)
 * Metal kit: ,

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways: Decapod or Decapod
 * Metal Cast:

1:300 Scale

 * Metal kit: Heroics & Ros GWA105

1:350 Scale

 * Shapeways: Decapod

1:600 Scale

 * Metal kit: Tumbling Dice

Color Schemes

 * Wingnut Wings Page