sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter The British-built Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter played a significant role in World War One, as it was the first British aircraft to feature synchronized machine guns. This two-seater plane allowed both the pilot and gunner to fire, and also carried four 25-pound or two 65-pound bombs under the wings. The aircraft was originally called the Sigrist Bus, but took on the designation 1 1/2 Strutter because of the strut formation: a pair of half struts and a pair of long struts forming a “W” when seen from the front. This Strutter was used in the 2006 movie, Flyboys, which tells the story of four Americans who joined the French Lafayette Escadrille squadron. They became America’s first fighter pilots flying on behalf of the French before the United States entered the Great War.
Military Aviation Museum
www.MilitaryAviationMuseum.org
SPECIFICATIONS: Country of Manufacture: England Manufacturer: Sopwith Aviation Company Engine: Clerget 9B Rotary Horsepower: 130 hp Empty Weight: 1,305 pounds Max Weight: xxx Max Speed: 100 mph Ceiling: XXX Crew: Two Armament: xxx