The Sopwith Camel is among the most significant and famous of all WWI aircraft. Camels downed 1,294 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied fighter in WWI. Pilots initially found the Camel challenging and dangerous. The controls were sensitive, and it could turn tightly because much of the weight, including the engine, fuel, machine guns, and pilot, was at the front of the airplane. The gyroscopic effect of the powerful rotary engine also contributed to its maneuverability. Almost as many pilots were killed in accidents as died in combat flying the Camel. But once its tricky characteristics were mastered, the Camel was a superior fighting machine.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Chantilly, VA

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