Sopwith Triplane

[Jim]

I would just like to let anyone interested in the above plane, that it is being reproduced in Calgary. It is being done at the Aircraft Museum out by the International airport. I was there this fall and what a great place. I was given a tour and in the tour I was shown this project. It is still under construction, but is is being done with exact material and they have an original engine. I also found out they have an original set of plans for this plane. It is a must see.

[Lufbery]

Great news!

Do you have a link or two where we could check it out?

-Drew

[leo]

www.aviation-magazine.com had a nice article on the tripe and some good pictures, too.

Back in the late seventies or early eighties, I watched the National Aeronautical Collection (as it was then known) fly their superb Sopwith Triplane replica in Ottawa, Canada. Although I've seen many WW1 replica and original aircraft fly, the Tripehound was certainly among the most impressive. It took off in a remarkably short distance--little more than the "tennis court" distance you read for the Camel. It was beautiful in the air, and the first landing was the best I have ever seen; a sweet sideslip just above the ground that reduced the landing roll to almost nothing.

Sadly, on the second landing, one wheel caught in a groundhog hole. The Tripe groundlooped, breaking the prop, damaging the cowling and sending the pilot neatly out of the cockpit. His boot went right through the trailing edge of the top wing on his way to the ground, where he rolled to his feet and stood looking back at the poor thing.

They never flew it again.

Please replace the word "replica" with "reproduction" in my previous reply. Sorry about that.

[Rod_Filan]

The Aero-Space Museum of Calgary doesnt have a site per sec, but The Aero-Space Museum Association of Calgary does. It's under the Museum Collection link. Just the usual details mentioned; and page hasn't changed for some time. Maybe take a look at the picture Jim and see how far it's come along since then.

Sad about the Tripe in Ottawa Ed, I read about it some time ago, but your first-hand account of the incident is quite a treat. I hope no one went souvenier hunting

VBR
Ro§bud

Thanks for the reply. I have just found a site link for you to try. www.asmac.ab.ca./ this will get you to the Calgary museum.

Jim.

Thanks for the info. I will check it out.
Jim

[Jim]

Thanks for the story. I asked the fellow at the museum if they were going to ever fly the plane, and he said at one time they were going too, but decided not to. I think after all the long hours of work, this was a wise choice.

Jim

Thanks for the site. I have looked it up, and also passed it along to some other pepole interested in this plane.

Jim