In April 1918, the sixth Snipe prototype was fitted with a 320 hp (239 kW) ABC Dragonfly I radial engine.[1][2] To compensate for the greater weight of the Dragonfly, the fuselage was lengthened by 22 in (56 cm).[3]
The prototype suffered persistent ignition system defects, but performance was encouraging when the Dragonfly engine operated properly.[3][4] In June 1918, the Royal Air Force issued a contract for 30 Dragonfly-engined Snipes, which were subsequently named Dragons.[3][4] In late November 1918, the RAF cancelled a production order for 300 Snipes and reordered the aircraft as Dragons.[1]
A second prototype was equipped with the larger 360 hp (268 kW) ABC Dragonfly IA engine.[1] This aircraft did not begin official trials at Martlesham Heath until February 1919.[4] It attained a top speed of 150 mph (240 km/h) at sea level and achieved a service ceiling of 25,000 ft.[1]
Sopwith built approximately 200 Dragon airframes, which were placed in storage pending delivery of their engines.[1] Difficulties with the Dragonfly ultimately proved impossible to resolve. Only a few aircraft were completed with Dragonfly engines, and none were issued to squadrons.[1] The Dragon was finally declared obsolete in April 1923.[5]
Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter Since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN1-55750-082-7.
Robertson, Bruce. Sopwith – The Man and His Aircraft. London: Harleyford, 1970. ISBN0-900435-15-1.
February 16, 2023
sopwith, dragon, british, single, seat, fighter, biplane, developed, from, sopwith, snipe, prototype, e7990, brooklands, airfieldrole, fightermanufacturer, sopwith, aviation, companyfirst, flight, 1918primary, user, royal, forcenumber, built, 200developed, fro. The Sopwith Dragon was a British single seat fighter biplane developed from the Sopwith Snipe Sopwith DragonPrototype E7990 at Brooklands AirfieldRole FighterManufacturer Sopwith Aviation CompanyFirst flight 1918Primary user Royal Air ForceNumber built 200Developed from Sopwith Snipe Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operators 3 Specifications 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesDesign and development EditIn April 1918 the sixth Snipe prototype was fitted with a 320 hp 239 kW ABC Dragonfly I radial engine 1 2 To compensate for the greater weight of the Dragonfly the fuselage was lengthened by 22 in 56 cm 3 The prototype suffered persistent ignition system defects but performance was encouraging when the Dragonfly engine operated properly 3 4 In June 1918 the Royal Air Force issued a contract for 30 Dragonfly engined Snipes which were subsequently named Dragons 3 4 In late November 1918 the RAF cancelled a production order for 300 Snipes and reordered the aircraft as Dragons 1 A second prototype was equipped with the larger 360 hp 268 kW ABC Dragonfly IA engine 1 This aircraft did not begin official trials at Martlesham Heath until February 1919 4 It attained a top speed of 150 mph 240 km h at sea level and achieved a service ceiling of 25 000 ft 1 Sopwith Dragon undergoing testing at McCook Field Sopwith built approximately 200 Dragon airframes which were placed in storage pending delivery of their engines 1 Difficulties with the Dragonfly ultimately proved impossible to resolve Only a few aircraft were completed with Dragonfly engines and none were issued to squadrons 1 The Dragon was finally declared obsolete in April 1923 5 Operators Edit United KingdomRoyal Air ForceSpecifications EditData from War Planes of the First World War Volume Three Fighters 6 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 21 ft 9 in 6 63 m Wingspan 31 ft 1 in 9 47 m Height 9 ft 6 in 2 9 m Wing area 271 sq ft 25 2 m2 Gross weight 2 132 lb 967 kg Powerplant 1 ABC Dragonfly IA radial engine 360 hp 268 kW Performance Maximum speed 150 mph 240 km h 130 kn Service ceiling 25 000 ft 7 600 m Armament 2 forward firing Vickers machine gunsSee also EditRelated development Sopwith Snipe Sopwith SalamanderRelated lists List of aircraft of the Royal Air ForceNotes Edit a b c d e f Mason 1992 p 144 Davis 1999 p 139 a b c Davis 1999 p 140 a b c Robertson 1970 p 226 Robertson 1970 p 227 Bruce 1969 p 45 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sopwith Dragon Bruce J M War Planes of the First World War Volume Three Fighters London Macdonald 1969 ISBN 0 356 01490 8 Davis Mick Sopwith Aircraft Ramsbury Marlborough Wiltshire Crowood Press 1999 ISBN 1 86126 217 5 Mason Francis K The British Fighter Since 1912 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press 1992 ISBN 1 55750 082 7 Robertson Bruce Sopwith The Man and His Aircraft London Harleyford 1970 ISBN 0 900435 15 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sopwith Dragon amp oldid 1099923196, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
