The Sopwith B.1 was an experimental British bomber aircraft of the First World War. A single-seat, single-engined biplane, the B.1 was built by the Sopwith Aviation Company for the Royal Navy. Although only two were built, one was used for bombing raids over France.
In late 1916, Sopwith, whose earlier 1½ Strutter had proved successful as a light bomber (particularly when operated as a single seater), designed a new, single-engined bomber aircraft. The new bomber was developed in parallel with the Cuckoocarrier-based torpedo bomber and closely resembled the Cuckoo. It, like the Cuckoo, was a compact tractorbiplane, powered by a 200 hp (149 kW) Hispano-Suiza water-cooled engine. Unlike the Cuckoo, the bomber's two-bay wings did not fold. It was designed as a single-seat aircraft, with the pilot sitting in a cockpit under the wing centre section to give a good view forwards and downwards for bombing. The aircraft bombload of up to 560 lb (255 kg) was carried vertically within the fuselage, in cells behind the pilot.[1][2]
While no orders followed from either the Admiralty, whose needs for a single-engined bomber had been met by the Airco DH.4 or the Royal Flying Corps, Sopwith obtained a license to build a prototype of the new bomber, designated Sopwith B.1 as a private venture, probably hoping for orders from the French Aéronautique Militaire.[3] This prototype first flew in early April 1917, being tested officially later that month, where it demonstrated good performance, but was tail heavy when carrying a bomb load and nose heavy without, and was tiring to fly.[1]
It was sent to France following these tests, in the mistaken belief that the French wanted to test the aircraft. Once in France, the unwanted B.1 was acquired by the British Royal Naval Air Service, given the serial number N.50 and issued to 5 Squadron, RNAS, on 16 May 1917 for operational evaluation.[4] Fitted with a single forward-firing Lewis gun, the B.1 was flown on a number of bombing raids against targets in German-occupied Belgium. While its performance was praised, it was again noted that the B.1 was tiring to fly, and that the lack of manoeuvrability or any useful defensive armament meant that it was vulnerable to hostile fighters.[5]
The prototype B.1 was sent to the Marine Experimental Aircraft Depot on the Isle of Grain in autumn 1917 for reconstruction as a two-seat carrier-based reconnaissance aircraft with folding wings. The initial attempts at modifying the aircraft were not successful, but the B.1 formed the basis of the Port Victoria Grain Griffin, a major redesign of the B.1 with new wings and a wider fuselage.[1]
A second B.1 was built in early 1918, being fitted with the elevator control cables routed outside the fuselage in an attempt to improve control. This aircraft was purchased by the RNAS and tested at Martlesham Heath in April–May 1918.[6]
Bruce, J. M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.
Bruce, J. M. Sopwith B.1 & T.1 Cuckoo: Windsock Datafile 90. Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, UK: Albatros Publications, 2001. ISBN1-902207-41-6.
Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914. London:Putnam, 1994. ISBN0-85177-861-5.
October 19, 2023
sopwith, experimental, british, bomber, aircraft, first, world, single, seat, single, engined, biplane, built, sopwith, aviation, company, royal, navy, although, only, were, built, used, bombing, raids, over, france, 1role, bombermanufacturer, sopwith, aviatio. The Sopwith B 1 was an experimental British bomber aircraft of the First World War A single seat single engined biplane the B 1 was built by the Sopwith Aviation Company for the Royal Navy Although only two were built one was used for bombing raids over France B 1Role BomberManufacturer Sopwith Aviation CompanyFirst flight 1917Introduction 1917Primary user Royal Naval Air ServiceNumber built 2 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Operators 3 Specifications B 1 4 See also 5 ReferencesDevelopment and design EditIn late 1916 Sopwith whose earlier 1 Strutter had proved successful as a light bomber particularly when operated as a single seater designed a new single engined bomber aircraft The new bomber was developed in parallel with the Cuckoo carrier based torpedo bomber and closely resembled the Cuckoo It like the Cuckoo was a compact tractor biplane powered by a 200 hp 149 kW Hispano Suiza water cooled engine Unlike the Cuckoo the bomber s two bay wings did not fold It was designed as a single seat aircraft with the pilot sitting in a cockpit under the wing centre section to give a good view forwards and downwards for bombing The aircraft bombload of up to 560 lb 255 kg was carried vertically within the fuselage in cells behind the pilot 1 2 While no orders followed from either the Admiralty whose needs for a single engined bomber had been met by the Airco DH 4 or the Royal Flying Corps Sopwith obtained a license to build a prototype of the new bomber designated Sopwith B 1 as a private venture probably hoping for orders from the French Aeronautique Militaire 3 This prototype first flew in early April 1917 being tested officially later that month where it demonstrated good performance but was tail heavy when carrying a bomb load and nose heavy without and was tiring to fly 1 It was sent to France following these tests in the mistaken belief that the French wanted to test the aircraft Once in France the unwanted B 1 was acquired by the British Royal Naval Air Service given the serial number N 50 and issued to 5 Squadron RNAS on 16 May 1917 for operational evaluation 4 Fitted with a single forward firing Lewis gun the B 1 was flown on a number of bombing raids against targets in German occupied Belgium While its performance was praised it was again noted that the B 1 was tiring to fly and that the lack of manoeuvrability or any useful defensive armament meant that it was vulnerable to hostile fighters 5 The prototype B 1 was sent to the Marine Experimental Aircraft Depot on the Isle of Grain in autumn 1917 for reconstruction as a two seat carrier based reconnaissance aircraft with folding wings The initial attempts at modifying the aircraft were not successful but the B 1 formed the basis of the Port Victoria Grain Griffin a major redesign of the B 1 with new wings and a wider fuselage 1 A second B 1 was built in early 1918 being fitted with the elevator control cables routed outside the fuselage in an attempt to improve control This aircraft was purchased by the RNAS and tested at Martlesham Heath in April May 1918 6 Operators Edit nbsp United KingdomRoyal Naval Air Service 5 Squadron RNASSpecifications B 1 EditData from The British Bomber since 1914 7 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 27 ft 0 in 8 23 m Wingspan 38 ft 6 in 11 73 m Height 9 ft 6 in 2 90 m Wing area 460 sq ft 43 m2 Empty weight 1 700 lb 771 kg Max takeoff weight 3 055 lb 1 386 kg Powerplant 1 Hispano Suiza 8B V 8 water cooled piston engine 200 hp 150 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 118 5 mph 190 7 km h 103 0 kn Endurance 33 4 hours Service ceiling 19 000 ft 5 800 m Time to altitude 10 000 ft 3 048 m in 15 minutes 30 seconds Wing loading 6 64 lb sq ft 32 4 kg m2 Power mass 0 065 hp lb 0 107 kW kg Armament Guns 1x forward firing 303 in Lewis gun Bombs Up to 560 lb 255 kg bombs including twenty 28 lb 13 kg bombs or twenty French 10 kg 22 lb bombs in fuselage bomb baySee also EditRelated development Sopwith Cuckoo Grain GriffinAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Sunbeam BomberRelated lists List of aircraft of the Royal Naval Air ServiceReferences Edit a b c Bruce 1957 pp 593 596 Mason 1994 pp 80 81 Bruce 2001 p 1 Bruce 2001 p 4 Bruce 2001 pp 5 6 Bruce 2001 pp 7 9 Mason 1994 p 83 Bruce J M British Aeroplanes 1914 18 London Putnam 1957 Bruce J M Sopwith B 1 amp T 1 Cuckoo Windsock Datafile 90 Berkhamsted Hertfordshire UK Albatros Publications 2001 ISBN 1 902207 41 6 Mason Francis K The British Bomber since 1914 London Putnam 1994 ISBN 0 85177 861 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sopwith B 1 amp oldid 1077631972, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
