Brooklands Sopwith Camel flying at Booker Airfield in 1989

In early 1989 the Brooklands Sopwith Camel was taken to Booker Airfield to help make an advert for the British Aerospace, who had just purchased Rover Cars.

The plan was for the Camel to fly by a Rover of similar vintage, to demonstrate the heritage of both companies.

I think the ultimate intention was to film the same thing with a modern fighter and a modern Rover car, but I never heard if it was done.

If you want to see more Brooklands videos like this, go to http://uk.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=D60750C987B6AE0D
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Category:

Autos & Vehicles

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• WW1
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• Sopwith
• Camel
• andysvideo
• booker
• airfield
• flight
• aircraft
• first
• world
• war
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• Brooklands Museum

[qu4k3w0r1d]

Fantastic video, sexy plane. I'm amazed at the STOL performance of this plane. All of the simulations I have tried really drag out takeoffs and landings in comparison to what the plane could clearly realistically do. Sweet vid!

[andysvideo]

Glad you liked it, it was something special to watch. you may also like to have a look at my in cockpit footage of the Brooklands Vimy flying at Oxford.

Andy

[andysvideo]

Note

There is an amusing legend associated with this event. The producer decided he wanted a shot with the camera in the centre and both vehicles facing him, one at 45 degrees to the right and one at 45 degrees to the left.

The car was driven in place and shunted backwards and forward until right and then the Camel was taxied up. To close cried the producer and waited for the pilot to select reverse gear and drive back a few foot!

[camelpilot]

Anybody know who the pilot was that flew this day?

[andysvideo]

It was Darroll Stinton at the time he was the CAA's chief test pilot, but has been retired for a number of years.

I am told he does pop in to Brooklands from time to time.

Regards Andy

[Ettrick8]

Beautiful to look at but could be lethal to learners

[andysvideo]

Believe me this one has been on its nose and damaged its prop, scaring the wits out of the ground crew.

[quinelo2]

Wonderfull plane!!

[CSXrailz]

I love the sopwith camel

[LorenzoB16]

Sounds like a diesel at the end

[Harakudoshi904]

How much is a reproduction camel cost? I want one.

[Giselle76502]

By Jove Biggles

[GerbilEssences]

Excellent :)

[bob23yer]

Nice three point landing.

[skeilak]

@andysvideo

Thanks for the video. A truly handsome aircraft.

I'd hate to have to work on that engine, though.

Oh, who am I kidding? I'd love to work on that engine. Or any other part of that classic warbird.

You are indeed, a fortunate man, Sir.

[Susseditout]

Fabulous!

[MrRascool]

@davidrodgersNJ

Apparently the cover over the two Vickers guns formed kind of a hump, so they called it the Camel... that's the story I heard anyway.

[davidrodgersNJ]

I wonder why they decided to call it the "camel"...

[Darbyjack]

This plane lives near me. Saw it up close and personal :) Not sure if it still works though