Flight, December 1919

SOME POST-WAR SOPWITH MACHINES

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   The "Dove" is a sporting two-seater machine fitted with a Le Rhone 80 h.p. somewhat on the lines of the famous "Camel," etc., fighters. Its chief characteristics are as follows :- Span, 25 ft.; chord, 5 ft. 1 1/2 ins.; gap, 4 ft. 6 ins.; stagger, 1 ft. 4 ins.; dihedral, 3°; overall length, 19 ft. 6 ins.; height, 9 ft. 6 ins.; area of main planes, 213 sq. f t.; weight fully loaded, 1,430 lbs.; maximum safe load, 665 lbs.; loading per sq. ft., 6.7 lbs.; speed range, 60-100 m.p.h.; climb, 5,000 ft. in 7 1/2 mins.; range, 200-250 miles.
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Flight, July 1920

The Olympia Aero Show 1920

The machines

Sopwith Aviation and Engineering Co., Ltd. (STAND 42) 65, South Molton Street, London, W.1, and Kingston.

   The "Dove" is primarily intended as a sporting two-seater tractor biplane, based on the famous Sopwith "Pup," whilst, if fitted with dual control, it is also particularly suitable for instructing pilots, who have passed their preliminary tests, before placing them on high-powered single-seaters. The engine is an 80 h.p. Le Rhone, and petrol is fed by gravity, thus eliminating all pressure "troubles." Both pilot and passenger are comfortably situated, possessing very good visibility. It has an excellent speed range, 35 to 100 m.p.h., and the low landing speed, together with the extra strong landing chassis, enables it to alight or get away from very small fields, etc. Except that the main planes are given a slight sweepback, the construction follows usual Sopwith practice, so that further description here is unnecessary. Fuel is carried for a period of 2 1/2 hours at a cruising speed of 85 m.p.h., and an adjustable tail plane allows of the machine being flown with the maximum comfort.


The Sopwith Machines

   The stand of the Sopwith Aviation and Engineering Co., Ltd., is one of the most unique at the show, the four corner columns being formed by fuselages, while the "posts" are half propellers and the signboard is a long tail plane supported on two Sopwith fuselages. Three machines are exhibited: the small Dove, the Gnu, and the Antelope. The former is a development of the famous Sopwith "Pup," one of the most-liked aeroplanes of the war. In its new form, however, the machine is a two-seater, and the addition of the extra seat has necessitated a slight sweepback of the wings in order to get the centre of lift sufficiently farther aft to counteract the extra weight of the passenger. In other respects the Dove is to all intents and purposes identical with the Pup, and as the machine has a good top speed (95 m.p.h.) combined with the low landing speed of 35 m.p.h. it should soon become as popular for sporting purposes as was the Pup for war work.