Control column, from Sopwith Camel fighter aircraft

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This control column from a Sopwith Camel fighter aircraft dates from around 1917.

The tubular aluminium alloy construction has a spade hand grip incorporating an engine 'blip' switch and twin thumb-operated trigger levers for two Vickers machine guns.

The Sopworth F.1 Camel fighter was one of the most successful fighters of World War I and was noted for its exceptional manoeuvrability. Some 1200 victories were credited to the type, out of just under 5500 built. The aircraft earned its name from the covering over the guns, which went from the circular cowling around the rotary engine to the forward coaming of the cockpit. The Camel had two .303 inch Vickers machine guns, though Royal Naval Air Service variants had a single Lewis gun mounted on the top wing.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-004-369-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1979.149
• Date: Around 1917
  c. 1917
  
• Material: Aluminiym alloy
  Control column, aircraft
  
• Dimensions: 130 mm x 80 mm x 730 mm
  
• What: Control column, aircraft
  
• Subject: 1. AERONAUTICS, Components (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Sopwith (Maker)
  Vickers (Maker of machine guns operated from control colu)
  
• Where:
• Event: World War I
  
• Description: Control column from a Sopwith Camel fighter aircraft made about 1917
  
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