Sopwith 1919 Schneider Cup Seaplane

The Sopwith Schneider of 1919 was a British racing seaplane. It was a single seat biplane intended to compete in the 1919 Schneider Trophy. After this race was abandoned due to fog, the Schneider was rebuilt into a landplane racer as the Sopwith Rainbow, being destroyed in a crash in 1923.

This article is about the floatplane that competed in the 1919 Schneider Trophy. For the aircraft that won the 1914 Schneider Trophy, see Sopwith Tabloid.

Schneider / Rainbow
Role Racing Aircraft
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Sopwith
First flight 1919
Retired 1923
Number built 1

Development and design

In 1919, it became possible to restart the Schneider Trophy races for seaplanes, which had not been held since 1914 owing to the First World War. As it was last won by the Sopwith Schneider development of the Sopwith Tabloid, the race was organised by the British Royal Aero Club, and was planned to be held at Bournemouth on 10 September that year. In order to compete in the 1919 race, the Sopwith Aviation Company designed a small floatplane, powered by the new Cosmos Jupiter radial engine.[1] It was of all-wooden construction, with single bay wings.[2]

Operational history

The Sopwith entry, registration G-EAKI, along with entries from Supermarine (the Sea Lion) and Fairey (the Fairey III) was one of three British entries to compete in the race (the Avro 539 was eliminated prior to race-day).[3] On the day of the race, the weather was poor, with thick fog.[4] The Sopwith, flown by Harry Hawker together with the Fairey entry, abandoned the race owing to the fog,[5] while the Supermarine aircraft hit debris following alighting to try to find where it was on the course, sinking when it tried to land again.[6] The only aircraft to complete the race, the Italian SIAI S.13 was disqualified as the pilot consistently missed one of the turning points,[5] the race being declared void.

In 1920, the Schneider Cup racer was rebuilt as a landplane and re-engined with a 320 hp (239 kW) ABC Dragonfly as the Jupiter engine which powered it in 1919 was unavailable, and known as the Sopwith Rainbow. It was entered into the 1920 Aerial Derby, but was disqualified.[7][8]

It was rebuilt again in 1922 by H.G. Hawker Engineering, (Sopwith Aviation having gone into receivership in 1920), being fitted with a Bristol Jupiter II. It finished second in the 1923 Aerial Derby on 6 August,[7][9] but was destroyed in a crash on 1 September 1923.[7]

Specifications (Schneider)

Data from British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972:Volume III [7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
  • Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) [10]
  • Wing area: 221.75 sq ft (20.6 m2) [11]
  • Gross weight: 2,200 lb (1,000 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Cosmos Jupiter , 450 hp (336 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 170 mph (274 km/h, 150 kn)

Notes
  1. Flight 28 August 1919, p.1154.
  2. Flight 4 September 1919, p.1183.
  3. Flight 11 September 1919, p.1225.
  4. Flight 18 September 1919, p.1247.
  5. Flight 18 September 1919, p.1249.
  6. Flight 18 September 1919, p.1253.
  7. Jackson 1988, p.310.
  8. Flight 29 July 1920, p.841.
  9. Flight 9 August 1923, p.467.
  10. Robertson 1970, pp. 236-237.
  11. Flight 4 September 1919, p.1184.
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References
  • "The Sopwith "Schneider Cup" Machine". Flight, 28 August 1919, p. 1154.
  • "The Jacques Schneider Cup Race". Flight, 4 September 1919, pp. 1180–1186.
  • "The Jacques Schneider Cup Race". Flight, 11 September 1919, pp. 1223–1225.
  • "Some Lessons from the Schneider Race". Flight, 18 September 1919, p. 1242.
  • "Schneider Cup Contest". Flight, 18 September 1919, pp. 1244–1254.
  • "The Machines in the Aerial Derby". Flight, 29 July 1920, pp. 836–841.
  • "the Eighth Aerial Derby: Fine Weather and Good Racing". Flight 9 August 1923, pp. 467–472.
  • Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972:Volume III.London:Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-818-6.
  • Robertson, Bruce. Sopwith-The Man and his Aircraft. Letchworth, UK:Air Review, 1970. ISBN 0-900435-15-1.
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