Best British WWI Fighter?

The Viper is the engine. The aircraft is a S.E.5a.

Wulf

Viper was the engine. It was better than the original Hispano-Suiza in torque and hp, and I believe, swung a slightly larger prop. It essentially made a great fighter almost phenomenal.

me so stupid. next time I'll read the dang description closer. Sure does say SE5, doesn't it.

Craig

If you go by inflated reputation, the Camel--but it was outdated by the summer of 1918 and only superior numbers kept it in the fight. The SE

Weren't the fastest, highest flying British planes reserved for home defence, against Zepplins and such?

(kim)

I don't think Zepps of Gothas flew that high, or fast. Victor Yeates in "Winged Victory" cited the Sopwith Dolphin's ability to fly at high altitude, as opposed to his own Camel's restriction to low and medium altitudes. Rotary-engined scouts all seemed to be favored by expert pilots, but the main equipment of the air forces by 1918 were powerful conventionally motored planes like the Spad, SE 5, Albatros and D VII, that could be flown and fought by pilots of average ability.

In "Diary of an Unknown Aviator" Elliot White Springs quotes another British Pilot's opinion on the Sopwith Dolphin. "We were climbing and these new Fokkers (ed. D-7s) came along and went right over our heads. Then some Dolphins came along and climbed right over the Fokkers. The Dolphin will outclimb anything at the front, if the pilot doesn't freeze to death first". As to the best aircraft being held back to defend England, that actually wasn't the case. Home defense squadrons actually got the lesser types until the beginning of 1918.

Bill Shuey