The Airdrome Sopwith Camel is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Airdrome Aeroplanes, of Holden, Missouri. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.^[1]

The aircraft is a full-scale replica of the First World War British Sopwith Camel fighter. The replica is built from modern materials and powered by modern engines.^[1]

Design and development

The Airdrome Sopwith Camel features a strut-braced biplane layout, a single-seat open cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.^[1]

The aircraft fuselage is made from welded 4130 steel tubing, covered in doped aircraft fabric. The Airdrome Sopwith Camel has a wingspan of 26.2 ft (8.0 m) and a wing area of 195 sq ft (18.1 m²). The standard engine used is the 150 hp (112 kW) four stroke Rotec R3600 radial engine. Building time from the factory-supplied kit is estimated at 450 hours by the manufacturer.^[1][2]

Operational history

One example had been completed by December 2011.^[1]

Specifications (Sopwith Camel)

Data from Kitplanes^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Wingspan: 26.2 ft (8.0 m)
• Wing area: 195 sq ft (18.1 m²)
• Empty weight: 943 lb (428 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,243 lb (564 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 18 U.S. gallons (68 L; 15 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rotec R3600 nine cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke radial engine, 150 hp (110 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

• Cruise speed: 85 mph (137 km/h, 74 kn)
• Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
• Range: 200 mi (320 km, 170 nmi)
• Rate of climb: 675 ft/min (3.43 m/s)
• Wing loading: 6.4 lb/sq ft (31 kg/m²)