During World War One the replacement for the Sopwith Camel scout fighter was the Sopwith Snipe biplane. Designed by Herbert Smith of the Sopwith Aviation Company, the Snipe first flew in October 1917 but with developmental issues that took a year to iron out (including initial pilot complaints of an inadequate rudder that was too… Read More The Survivors: World War One’s Sopwith Snipe
SOPWITH CAMEL Designed by Herbert Smith of the Sopwith Aviation Company as a further development of the Sopwith Pup, the iconic British Sopwith Camel biplane was the most successful Allied scout fighter of World War One and became the steed of many Allied air aces. Introduced to the Western Front in 1917, the Sopwith Camel… Read More The Survivors: World War One’s Iconic Sopwith Camel
At the Adelaide Airport in South Australia is what I still consider to be one of the cities best hidden aviation treasures. The Vickers Vimy and Sir Ross & Sir Keith Smith Memorial building (established 1958) houses the immaculate looking World War One era Vickers Vimy IV G-EAOU (dubbed “God ‘Elp All Of Us“) bomber,… Read More Sir Ross & Keith Smith Vickers Vimy – 2018 Update
To commemorate the centenary of military aviation in Australia (1914 to 2014) I am writing a six-part series on the key stages of the RAAF: The Early Years – 1914 to 1939 (World War One and the interwar years), World War Two – 1939 to 1945, the Cold War Begins and the Korean War – 1945 to 1953, South East Asian Conflicts – 1950 to… Read More A Brief History of the Royal Australian Air Force: The Early Years – 1914 to 1939
Aces Flying High 