Sopwith Camel (reproduction)

A major innovation in a British fighter, the Sopwith F.1, was the first installation of a pair of Vickers machine guns, mounted on top of the fuselage in front of the cockpit, with synchronisation gear to allow firing through the airscrew arc. The guns were partly enclosed by a humped fairing and led to the nickname ‘Camel’, which became so popular that it was officially accepted.

The first Camels went to the RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) from May 1917 and had started to re-equip RFC (Royal Flying Corps) squadrons by late that year. Well over 5,000 F.1 Camels were finally built by Sopwith and eight other contractors and the type was still in service at the time of the Armistice.

About this aircraft

This exhibit is the third and final aircraft built by Northern Aeroplane Workshops (NAW) in Batley, West Yorkshire for the Shuttleworth Collection, in an arrangement that’s lasted 40 years. The close association between NAW and Old Warden has resulted in earlier completion of the Sopwith Triplane and Bristol M1C monoplane, also based here at Old Warden.

As the Bristol neared completion it was decided, following consultation with the Collection, to start on the F.1 Camel Based on drawings donated to NAW in 1973, building started in 1995. Throughout the build suitable materials were sourced via  Old Warden and the project was overseen by the Light Aircraft Association.

Work continued until the summer of 2013 and then, as the lease on the Batley workshop was due to expire, the aircraft was collected on 28 August that year and delivered to Old Warden for completion by the full-time engineers.

Specification