Cowboy1968
Charter Member
I wasn't sure what I was going to start with in this series. So many great aircraft to choose from. So I decided to go with one of my favorites. The Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopwith_Snipe
The Snipe is one of those planes you either love or hate. She has some tricky handling characteristics that make her will a good combat plane because she isn't the most stable thing in the air.
Most of the factors that led to her instability was in the engine chosen for her. That big 230 hp Brantly BR2 rotary engine caused a lot of torque to effect the rolling characteristics to the point that a roll to port was hard to accomplish, the roll was very slow, but on the other when you roll to starboard she goes into a snap roll. I will explain why this isn't really that much of a problem in a minute.
In a dog fight these lack of response in a port roll can get you into trouble. But you can also use it to your advantage. Start your roll cut your engine throttle and you can lesson the effect to some extent. If you are in a dog fight with the Snipe, just remember if you have to roll out of something go to starboard.
You have to remember the allies were falling in love with the Zoom and Boom type fighter. During World War II these birds would be called energy fighters. The Snipe was fast at 121 mph and this speed in combination with that 230 hp engine gave the Snipe a climb rate that bettered everything the enemy had. Not only that, but the weight of engine itself also gave the plane a very rapid dive.
This handling character translated into this for an attack. You would come in about 12,000 feet, it should be pointed out here that the Snipe was one of the first aircraft types to actually carry an oxygen system, and then once you spot your enemy you bank off to the right and then put your nose down and pick your target and then let her dive like a rock on your target. once you make your pass, pull up the nose, bank this time to left to help control your next move which is to put the nose skyward again and let the momentum and power from your engine pull you back up to altitude and then make your attack again.
The Snipe, like the SPAD, is a true Zoom and Boom bird. It was meant for that type of tactics, but if you do find yourself in a dog fight you have to remember what you are in. you roll to the left to get out of trouble you are going to die. roll with the way the engine wants to take you....go right. Also in a dog fight she can handle herself well enough to stay in the fight, but the best way to survive a dog fight in a Snipe is not to get into one....
Use your speed and extend out of a dog fight. This gives you the ability to choose when and how you want this fight to go.
that is just some thoughts on this machine....
If you want to know more about the Snipe then what you can get from Wikki link drop me a note and i will send you a reading list of references that i have on this fabulous aircraft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopwith_Snipe
The Snipe is one of those planes you either love or hate. She has some tricky handling characteristics that make her will a good combat plane because she isn't the most stable thing in the air.
Most of the factors that led to her instability was in the engine chosen for her. That big 230 hp Brantly BR2 rotary engine caused a lot of torque to effect the rolling characteristics to the point that a roll to port was hard to accomplish, the roll was very slow, but on the other when you roll to starboard she goes into a snap roll. I will explain why this isn't really that much of a problem in a minute.
In a dog fight these lack of response in a port roll can get you into trouble. But you can also use it to your advantage. Start your roll cut your engine throttle and you can lesson the effect to some extent. If you are in a dog fight with the Snipe, just remember if you have to roll out of something go to starboard.
You have to remember the allies were falling in love with the Zoom and Boom type fighter. During World War II these birds would be called energy fighters. The Snipe was fast at 121 mph and this speed in combination with that 230 hp engine gave the Snipe a climb rate that bettered everything the enemy had. Not only that, but the weight of engine itself also gave the plane a very rapid dive.
This handling character translated into this for an attack. You would come in about 12,000 feet, it should be pointed out here that the Snipe was one of the first aircraft types to actually carry an oxygen system, and then once you spot your enemy you bank off to the right and then put your nose down and pick your target and then let her dive like a rock on your target. once you make your pass, pull up the nose, bank this time to left to help control your next move which is to put the nose skyward again and let the momentum and power from your engine pull you back up to altitude and then make your attack again.
The Snipe, like the SPAD, is a true Zoom and Boom bird. It was meant for that type of tactics, but if you do find yourself in a dog fight you have to remember what you are in. you roll to the left to get out of trouble you are going to die. roll with the way the engine wants to take you....go right. Also in a dog fight she can handle herself well enough to stay in the fight, but the best way to survive a dog fight in a Snipe is not to get into one....
Use your speed and extend out of a dog fight. This gives you the ability to choose when and how you want this fight to go.
that is just some thoughts on this machine....
If you want to know more about the Snipe then what you can get from Wikki link drop me a note and i will send you a reading list of references that i have on this fabulous aircraft.
