Sopwith Camel Loses Engine Cowl In Flight

A WWI fighter aircraft loses its engine cowl during an airshow display.

This Sopwith Camel replica with authentic rotary engine was displayed in New Zealand for the first time at the Classic Fighters 2001 airshow. On the second day of the show during a display routine with a Fokker Dr.1 Triplane, the engine cowl came loose, with some parts falling to the ground, and other sections getting stuck on the aircraft wing.

The aircraft was expertly returned to the ground without further incident by pilot Gene de Marco.


http://www.aviationfilm.com

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Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Sopwith
• Camel
• WW1
• fighter
• aircraft
• engine
• cowl
• loss
• aeroplane
• accident
• crash

[paullubliner]

Nice one Gene!

[Giovanniram22]

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

I was searcing for RC Sopwith Camel and when I saw the title "Sopwith Camel Loses Engine Cowl In Flight " I was sure that it was RC.

I saw the first landing and I say WOW!! What a beautiful scale model and what a realistic speed it has, and then I saw the pilot moving and I had a SHOCK.

I thought that it was a introduction for the RC part but then I saw the real plane with the cowl rests on the wing. I must say that its incredible. Strong propeler you have there . Congrats

[gmccord1970]

Wow, amazing! Kudos to the pilot for bringing her down in one piece! That cowling could have done some serious damage to the prop while in flight.

[55chh]

Someone loaded som live ammo!

[greenseaships]

I say that guy behind him shot him up!

At least he brought some of the cowling home ;)

[darkhound891]

guess that was the engines hint to the pilot that it needed matinence lol. nice video, and nice flying on the pilots behalf

[ejlister]

@GGigabiteM Monosoupape literally means "one valve." Thanks for the info though. I've been able to see a few rotaries here in Texas but haven't been able to use my AP license on one yet. Hope to soon. Cheers.

[GGigabiteM]

@ejlister In an interview he later had about the incident, he tells how it bent one of the cylinders push/pull rods (Gnome Monosoupape engines used a single push/pull rod for the single valve) and jammed the aileron so he could only turn left. That hissing sound is probably the cylinder that isn't working properly due to the bent rod.

[ejlister]

Wow! Too bad it happened, but it was awesome to see that engine running without anything blocking the view!

[wewd]

The Red Baron claims another one!