The biplane that influenced two decades of fighter development: The Sopwith Tabloid

When unveiled to the public at the end of 1913, the Sopwith Tabloid was one of the most advanced aircraft of the times. A small compact aircraft, it proved to be extremely maneuverable and fast. The Tabloid is a large part why biplanes were preferred over monoplanes during World War One. The Tabloid did see service with the Royal Flying Corp and Royal Naval Air Service during the Great War, although it was relatively short. As a racer, a single modified Tabloid did win the Schneider Trophy in 1914 and this would pave the way for the development of the Sopwith Schneider (a seaplane version of the Tabloid). The Sopwith Schneider would serve with the Royal Naval Air Service. The Tabloid was the beginning of a long line of Sopwith single seat aircraft that would cumulate in the famous Sopwith Camel fighter.
Thanks to the following:
- National Library of Australia
- State Library of South Australia
- Imperial War Museum
-Australian War Memorial
-San Diego Air and Space Museum
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Sources:
Aeropdia: aeropedia.com.au/content/sopw...
BAE Systems: www.baesystems.com/en/heritag...
Brooklands Museum: www.brooklandsmuseum.com/expl...
Fiddlers Green: www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/A...
Military Factory: www.militaryfactory.com/aircr...
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum: www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/ai...
#aviationhistory #tabloid #ww1 #greatwar #sopwith #aviation #history #militaryhistory #aircraft #biplanes #britishhistory

[@bigblue6917]

I have come across the tabloid before but not with such detail. Thanks

[@AntiqueAirshow]

It seems to pop up here and there when reading about the First World War.

[@davidfell9083]

Very good. The Tabloid was an important aircraft of its time.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thanks. Yes indeed it was 👍✈️

[@michaelegan6092]

Having been an aircraft buff, for all my life, I would like to complement you on your enormous knowledge and to tell you that you have a great future in writing history. Go for it ,the future needs you!.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thank you, appreciate it. 👍✈️

[@Hcb37]

Great work!

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thank you 👍✈️

[@ashleysmith3106]

From where I'm sitting in my home in Minlaton. South Australia, I can see the display hangar containing Harry Butler's original WW1 Bristol M1 monoplane. Perhaps you could do a video on this type of Aircraft and it's use during the War, as well as Butler's contribution to aviation in Australia ?

[@AntiqueAirshow]

That is very interesting. I'll add it to the list, that would be a good video. I've got a few videos to do first, but I'll make sure to get to it. Australia seems to have quite a few early aviation pioneers named Harry. Harry Hawker, Harry Kauper, Harry Butler, Harry Busteed. I've got a video on Hawker currently in the works. 👍✈️

[@ashleysmith3106]

@@AntiqueAirshow Thanks! I believe Harry Butler and Harry Kauper formed the Butler & Kauper Aviation Co. Ltd which pioneered commercial aviation in South Australia and had a Mechanics workshop just along the street from me. As a side note, I also have a pistol carried by E.P.M. Shaw while he flew for the R.F.C. His Pilot's log is viewable on the Australian War Memorial site. He died in a training accident on 8 April 1932 while in the RAAF. The trainee survived!!

[@ianbell5611]

Thanks great video 👍

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thanks 👍✈️

[@garyhooper1820]

Yes sir ! I like it .

[@AntiqueAirshow]

👍✈️

Awesome!!

[@AntiqueAirshow]

👍✈️

[@philliprobinson7724]

Hi Tomato Eins. Very good research, well done. Biplanes prevailed because they produced more lift than monoplanes at the lower speeds engines of less than 150 hp were capable of. Monoplanes have a higher wing loading, and with the exception of the slow Fokker E1 were avoided because braced fabric covered airframes weren't up to fast flight. Fokker made the first all metal monoplane in 1917, but cheap aluminium wasn't available before that because making it needs mega-watts of electricity. Post war Fokker experimented with glued box-sparred plywood cantilever wings (unbraced) in the Fokker Tri-motor. (Also the Stout aircraft, which became the Ford Trimotor). They were susceptible to water, heat and humidity warping, just like the DH 98 Mosquito and Albatross. With fabric covered biplanes any unwanted wing warp could be turn-buckled out by the riggers, but not a rigid plywood wing. Engine power and materials limitations fixed the biplane as the standard aircraft back then. (Sorry to be a know-it-all, but I'm an old guy with a photographic memory). Chocks away, P.R.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thank you 👍✈️ That is really interesting and some things I was not familiar with. That makes sense. It's great when people like you share things like this because it enables me to enhance my understanding and opens up for some good discussions. Thanks for sharing 👍✈️

[@philliprobinson7724]

@@AntiqueAirshow Hi. No problem Tomato,, it's great to be able to have discussions with persons from all round the world. In my young days we'd have an overseas pen-pal, craft a letter in our very best handwriting, send it (at some cost), and wait 3 months for a reply. Today it happens in seconds. Wunderbar! I don't mean to be impertinent, but what's this "Tomato" thing? Do you grow them, throw them at 2nd rate actors, or work for Heinz? 😊Cheers, P.R.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

@@philliprobinson7724 It really is, and I find very insightful. It's amazing how the internet has connected us. Actually, none of the above. It's a nod to the 1969 film, The Battle of Britain, my all time favourite film, and a big part why I have such an interest in historic aviation. Tomato Eins was a callsign of one of the bombers in the film, and in English translates to Tomato One 👍✈

[@philliprobinson7724]

@@AntiqueAirshowHi. It was a great film, I saw it when it first came out. You might also like "Reach for the sky", about Douglas Bader, the legless pilot who flew Hurricanes. I met him when I was a boy in the 1950's when my father worked for Shell, as did Bader. He gave me a 1/72 Airfix model of a Gloster Gladiator. There's a book of the same name by Paul Brickhill, a good read. To be honest, your moniker "Tomato Eins" won't be doing your patronage figures any good. A "Jerry" call-sign will get poor reception from persons who went through the blitz on the receiving end, or had relatives die. Most of your viewers will be old retired guys like me who have the time to fossick around You-Tube, and whose reading matter in childhood was Fleetway Libraries "War Picture Library", "Battle Picture Library", and Air Ace Picture Library". All comics, and all written to brainwash the next generation of cannon fodder. We're all filled to the gunnels with prejudice Tomato, paint over the crosses and swastikas with some pukka roundels, and the unseen flak barrage will disappear. Also, you specialize in British aircraft best described as turkey's. First impression is a Jerry thumbing his nose at British ineptitude. To reverse this prejudice effect without altering your channel's interesting focus, have you considered changing your moniker to something like BIGGLES FLIES UNDONE ? 😄All the best, P.R.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

​@@philliprobinson7724 I have heard about that movie, I'll have to check it out. That is very interesting and would have been a great person to meet. You probably have a very good point. I hadn't quite thought it that way, but I completely understand that. It makes a lot of sense. It was never intended to be viewed as Jerry callsign, just a nod to my favourite film.Also over the past few months I have had some thoughts that my channel name wasn't overly visible and hard to find. I have taken this all into account and over the last week have been rebranding the channel with a new name, which I'm sure you can see. Thank you for the feedback, it little things like this that can help me develop and make the channel better 👍✈

[@650thunderbird5]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@AntiqueAirshow]

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