Is anyone else following the Kingston Aviation Centenary Project, the history of (at the moment anyway) Sopwith and its aeroplanes, their design and production and (it seems) some of their history in action 100 years ago? I found it a few years ago, favourited it in the wrong place and so lost it, then refound it and have been catching up on an exciting period in aviation.
http://www.kingstonaviation.org/100-years-ago.html
Most recent (it does appear to run about a week behind):
Dunkirk based “Baby”” 8179 suffers an engine failure on 13th September and makes a forced landing beside HMS Riviera 16 miles north of Zeebrugge but is capsized being hoisted aboard and will be deleted from service.
On 13th September “Strutter” 9717 suffers a collision at Manston whilst 54 Squadron’s A1914 on its delivery flight from Castle Bromwich to St Omer gets lost in cloud, runs out of fuel and lands near Thielt in German territory. It is captured intact and sent to Alderschof for evaluation. 2nd Lt A F Organ is taken prisoner of war.
Having introduced a number of strengthening and practical modifications with their first machine, on 13th September the ninth Ruston Proctor built “Strutter” 7770 is delivered to 45 Squadron with “new cowl and top planes fitted celluloid window” along with 7773 which has “inspection door in planes for aileron pulley”.
Sopwith’s “Pup” production is beginning to flow. By 13th September the fourth machine N5183 is at Chingford, the fifth N5184 has already moved on to Dover and is about to be joined there by the sixth N5185.
Seven weeks from the first production order for Clerget “Triplanes” George Carter signs off the general arrangement drawing.(below) He is in charge of the Production Drawing Office under Chief Designer Herbert Smith. His job is to expand and productionise the prototype drawings done by Reg Ashworth and his team in the Project/Experimental Drawing Office so that they can be easily understood by inexperienced sub-contractors.
Absolutely fantastic, with some brilliant and unique photos of the period.
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September 21, 2016 at 3:44 pm