User Guide

Flight Simulator
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Microsoft
Sopwith 2F.1 Camel
In July, 1917, the Sopwith Camel entered the fray
of World War I aerial combat. Developed by the
British as a replacement for the Sopwith Pup, the
Camel was an extremely agile and maneuverable
airplane. With its two Vickers machine guns, it
outgunned the Pup and provided a measure of
insurance against losing a fight due to a jammed
gun. The humped fairing that covered the
machine guns gave the Camel its name. In less
than two years’ service, the Camel finished the
war with 1,294 victories on its tally sheet.
The Camel was the deadliest Allied airplane of
World War I—for enemy and Allied pilots alike. 413
Allied pilots suffered combat-related deaths and
385 died from non-combat-related causes in the
Camel. Aces loved it but, it was not a plane for
beginners. British Major W. G. Moore explained
that “being totally unstable in all directions and
very sensitive fore and aft, and much influenced
by engine torque, [it] was a deathtrap for the
inexperienced pilot. A skilled pilot could not wish
for a better mount.”
What made the Camel tricky to handle is that
much of its mass was concentrated in the front
seven feet of the airplane. While having incredible
turn performance, the forward center of gravity
combined with high torque forces from its big
rotary engine meant that the plane could easily
out-maneuver its unwary pilot. Sudden forward
stick movements (which pitch the aircraft’s nose
down) could actually catapult the pilot out of his
seat if he wasn’t strapped in. The plane was also
prone to deadly unintentional spins, of which little
was understood at the time (proper Camel spin-
recovery techniques not yet having been devel-
oped).
Though capable of flying higher, the Camel was
most effective at around 12,000 feet (3,658 m),
where its maneuverability had an advantage over
German fighters. In his open cockpit at those
altitudes, the pilot would be exposed to bitter cold.
A pilot remembered, “I flew in a wool-lined leather
coat, a red knitted scarf—important to keep out
the draught—mask, goggles and mittens, plus
long sheepskin thigh boots.”
The names of a number of World War I aces are
inseparably linked to the Camel. Tradition holds
that Canadian Sopwith Camel ace Roy Brown shot
down the dreaded German flyer, Manfred von
Richtofen (the Red Baron), although it is now
generally believed that von Richtofen was downed
by ground fire. Canadian Donald MacLaren
scored 54 victories in the Camel. And, when
famed cartoonist Charles Schulz chose to send
his hero Snoopy up against the Red Baron,
Snoopy’s steed of choice was, of course, the
Sopwith Camel.
For details on flying this aircraft, see the Aircraft
Information section of Help.
As with all taildraggers,
takeoffs, landings and
taxiing can be tricky in the
Sopwith. Carefully monitor
your directional control.