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User:TheLongTone/Sopwith-Wright biplane

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Sopwith-Wright biplane
Role experimental aircraft
Manufacturer Burgess Company
Designer Wright Brothers
Number built 1
Developed from Wright Model B

Background

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In 1911 Thomas Sopwith took his Howard Wright biplane to America to give a series of exhibition flights. He used some of the prize money that he won to buy a Wright Model B biplane built under license by the Burgess Company and powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) Gnome Omega.[1]

Development

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On returning to England Sopwith had the aircraft rebuilt, adding a fabric-covered nacelle to protect the pilot.

Operational history

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It was flown by Harry Hawker to win the British Michelin Trophy for flight endurance on 24 October 1912, with a flight lasting 8 hr 23 min. Hawker could have continued for longer, but landed because it was becoming dark. [2]

Specifications (variant specified)

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Data from Lewis, P. British Aircraft 1809-1914, p.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft 9 in (11.81 m)
  • Wing area: 475 sq ft (44.1 m2)
  • Powerplant: 1 × A.B.C. , 40 hp (30 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed Bristol, 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) diameter x2, chain-driven

Notes

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  1. ^ Lewis, Peter. British Aircraft 1809-1914. London: Putnam, 1962, p.469
  2. ^ British Duration RecordsFlight 2 November 1912

References

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The Sowith-Wright Biplane,Flight, 23 November 1912.

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