Roden Sopwith Triplane

Sopwith Triplane: British single-seat fighter designed in 1916 as a further development of the well-proven Sopwith Pup fighter. Its distinctive feature was its three-wing construction, which provided advantages in maneuverability, speed, and climb rate. According to these indicators, the Sopwith Triplane surpassed all contemporary British and German designs. In April 1917, several British squadrons flew the Sopwith Triplane, achieving many victories against the Albatros D.III, the best German fighter of that time. The appearance of the Sopwith Triplane made a significant impression on the Germans, prompting them to develop their own response: the Fokker Dreidecker. Some of the best British aces of that time, including Roderick Stanley Dallas, Raymond Collishaw, and Thomas Culling, flew the Sopwith Triplane. A total of 150 aircraft of this type were produced, with the last being phased out at the end of 1917.