Best RAF airplane - a toss up?
 

Given a choice which would fellow forum writers pick for the best WW I RAF airplane?
1) The SE5A or the 2) Sopwith Camel :) :cool: :D

Here is a discussion on that very question from the not-too-distant past.

I think that the spad 13 should also be included in this. bUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. :rolleyes:

Best airplane, no question, the SE5a. Best warplane, the Camel, by its record. How's that for Canadian-style fence-straddling,eh?

Hi all,

The Camel probably killed as many (or more) of its own pilots in accidents as it did enemy fliers. Don't let its "record" fool you as many of those "kills" were nothing of the sort, but rather a pilot observing his enemy "out of control."

The SE5a was a stable plane, easier to fly than the Camel. Pilots praised it for its speed, performance in a dive, and stability as a gun platform. It also killed many fewer pilots in accidents than the Camel.

My choice? The Bristol F.2b Fighter! :D

Regards,

I often cogitate on how the great Aces would have fared if they had been on Camels instead of SE's. Would their mount have killed them before they ran up the cricket scores?
From what I've read of Taffy Jones, don't think the Welsh Wizard would have lasted very long in a Camel! :(

My choice? The Bristol F.2b Fighter with Missy on double yoked Lewis guns! :wacko:

Ginger:
Had some of the S.E.5a pilots flown Camels instead, it is probable that some would have been killed just flying that abomination!
S.E.5a without a doubt.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

When a choice of two is offered, the comparative, not the superlative, must be used. A pet hate of mine. The Coles Myer supermarket chain allocates one cash register for those with “12 items or less” in its stores That’s another one. I get peculiar looks from the mainly school aged female cashiers when I mention the error.

I like R Pope’s post. It draws a distinction that gives meaning to the original question.

The Camel may look to be an "abomination" to our jaded eyes today, but at the time it was the best available. And the thing about OOC's applies to all RFC and RAF claims, not just the Camel. Many of its' contemporaries fell apart in the air with no enemy assistance! The very thing that made it dangerous to fly, made it hard to shoot down. Many pilots wouldn't trade it for other rides, even for SE's or Dolphins.

I think that the SE5a had a better performance rating to the Sopwith Camel.The SE5a could probably turn better than the Camel.When you look at historical backround of the SE5a,the test pilot died in a crash in the the prototype SE5.But as the war went on,modifications made to the plane made it a living legend.If you think about it,you'll think about what pilots used this great plane to kill aces like Werner Voss by Arthur-Rhys Davids.