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Sopwith Gunbus

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Landplane version for RNAS, the Gunbus was officially designated the Admiralty Type 806. It had a revised nacelle which was raised above the centre section of the lower wing rather than being directly attached and was powered by a Sunbeam engine. Six gun-armed aircraft were built by Sopwith, with a
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in early 1915, these being fitted with a modified nacelle, with the pilot sitting in the forward cockpit rather than the gunner, and fitted for bombing. Only 17 of these aircraft were completed, with the remaining 13 delivered as spare parts.
197:. At least five of these aircraft were taken over by the Royal Navy at the outbreak of war, but again proved unsuccessful in British Service, with at least two being modified as landplanes. They remained in service until July 1915. 208:
water-cooled V8 engines and armed with a machine gun. The first one flew on 6 October 1914, and was found to be underpowered, so was fitted with a 150 hp (112 kW) Sunbeam. A further 30 aircraft were ordered from
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Armed version of Pusher Seaplane powered by Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine. Six were ordered for Greece, with at least five commandeered by the RNAS at the outbreak of the First World War. At least two were modified as
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100 hp (75 kW) radial engine, giving a speed of 55 mph (89 km/h) and climbing to 2,000 ft (610 m) in 12½ minutes. Six were built for Greek Navy and two for RNAS.
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in February 1915, with Samson commenting that the Sopwith required "a lot of work on it to make it safe to fly". The Gunbuses were used mainly as trainers, being used by the RNAS at
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The first of the Greek Pusher Seaplanes flew in February 1914, successfully passing trials in March, with first deliveries in May and all six delivered by the outbreak of the
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available, the two British aircraft were less successful, with their engines proving unreliable, and were withdrawn by February 1915.
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The Sunbeam-powered Gunbuses saw limited operational use, with one aircraft being on the strength of the RNAS squadron at
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further 30 modified aircraft fitted for bombing ordered from Robey and Co., of which only 17 were completed.
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The Royal Navy ordered six modified landplane based on the S PG N in July 1914, the Sopwith Gunbus or
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radial engine, with four-bay wings. It was fitted with dual controls for use as a trainer.
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received an order for six two-seat floatplane from the Greek Government for the
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In March 1914, the Greeks placed an order for six more pusher seaplanes, the
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Mason, Tim. "Tom Sopwith...and his Aeroplanes 1912-14".
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War Planes of the First World War: Volume Two Fighters
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War Planes of the First World War:Fighters Volume Two
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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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Letchworth, UK: Air Review, 1970. 374:50 ft 0 in (15.24 m) 16:British WW1 biplane pusher aircraft 13: 380:11 ft 4 in (3.45 m) 368:32 ft 6 in (9.91 m) 14: 1407: 386:474 sq ft (44.0 m) 266:Pusher Seaplane or Greek Seaplane 696:Sopwith-The Man and his Aircraft 610:Wolverhampton Museum of Industry 320: 298: 179:, with at first no workshops or 1334:Special torpedo seaplane Type C 966:Special torpedo seaplane Type C 1386:1910s British fighter aircraft 946:Sopwith Pusher Seaplane/S PG N 664:The British Fighter since 1912 598: 589: 568: 547: 502: 1: 1184:Circuit of Britain floatplane 941:Circuit of Britain floatplane 633: 462:Provision for underwing bombs 427:4,000 ft (1,200 m) 1396:Aircraft first flown in 1914 1391:History of the Hellenic Navy 626:Robertson 1970, pp. 238–239. 291: 7: 651:. London: Macdonald, 1968. 612:. Retrieved 15 August 2009. 466: 400:, 150 hp (110 kW) 260: 10: 1412: 642:British Aeroplanes 1914-18 606:Sunbeam:Side Valve Engines 335:Hellenic Naval Air Service 109:. It was a single-engined 1347: 1141: 1035: 1015: 999: 928: 892: 876: 850: 759: 752: 23: 574:F. K. Mason 1992, p. 20. 565:Bruce 1968, pp. 109–110. 553:Bruce 1968, pp. 110–111. 495: 341:Specifications (Sunbeam) 142:Sopwith Aviation Company 58:Sopwith Aviation Company 644:. London: Putnam, 1957. 353:General characteristics 313:Royal Naval Air Service 173:Royal Naval Air Service 146:Greek Naval Air Service 132:, mainly as a trainer. 130:Royal Naval Air Service 76:Royal Naval Air Service 1239:Hispano-Suiza Triplane 802:Hispano-Suiza Triplane 508:Robertson 1970, p. 44. 136:Development and design 530:T. Mason 1982, p. 78. 211:Robey & Co. Ltd. 595:Bruce 1957, p. 525. 586:Bruce 1968, p. 111. 544:Bruce 1957, p. 524. 163:Operational history 124:before the war for 80:Royal Hellenic Navy 72:Primary users 956:Admiralty Type 138 951:Admiralty Type 137 694:Robertson, Bruce. 662:Mason, Francis K. 271:Anzani 10-cylinder 245:Royal Flying Corps 202:Admiralty Type 806 1368: 1367: 1031: 1030: 691:. pp. 74–80. 431:Time to altitude: 192:Gnome Monosoupape 99: 98: 1403: 1381:Sopwith aircraft 991:Schneider (1919) 981:Schneider (1914) 961:Admiralty Type C 757: 756: 738: 731: 724: 715: 714: 627: 624: 613: 602: 596: 593: 587: 584: 575: 572: 566: 563: 554: 551: 545: 542: 531: 528: 509: 506: 441: 425:Service ceiling: 408: 394:Sunbeam Crusader 355: 326: 324: 323: 304: 302: 301: 88: 44: 36:Type of aircraft 33:Fighter aircraft 21: 20: 1411: 1410: 1406: 1405: 1404: 1402: 1401: 1400: 1371: 1370: 1369: 1364: 1343: 1137: 1027: 1011: 995: 924: 888: 872: 846: 748: 742: 711: 709: 636: 631: 630: 625: 616: 603: 599: 594: 590: 585: 578: 573: 569: 564: 557: 552: 548: 543: 534: 529: 512: 507: 503: 498: 469: 442: 437: 404: 351: 343: 321: 319: 299: 297: 294: 263: 169:First World War 165: 138: 107:First World War 92: 86: 78: 43:National origin 42: 37: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1409: 1399: 1398: 1393: 1388: 1383: 1366: 1365: 1363: 1362: 1360:Thomas Sopwith 1357: 1351: 1349: 1345: 1344: 1342: 1341: 1336: 1331: 1326: 1321: 1316: 1311: 1306: 1301: 1296: 1291: 1286: 1281: 1276: 1271: 1266: 1261: 1256: 1251: 1246: 1241: 1236: 1231: 1226: 1221: 1216: 1211: 1206: 1201: 1196: 1191: 1186: 1181: 1176: 1171: 1166: 1161: 1156: 1151: 1145: 1143: 1139: 1138: 1136: 1135: 1130: 1124: 1123: 1117: 1116: 1110: 1109: 1104: 1098: 1097: 1092: 1087: 1082: 1077: 1072: 1067: 1062: 1056: 1055: 1050: 1045: 1039: 1037: 1036:By designation 1033: 1032: 1029: 1028: 1026: 1025: 1019: 1017: 1013: 1012: 1010: 1009: 1003: 1001: 997: 996: 994: 993: 988: 983: 978: 973: 968: 963: 958: 953: 948: 943: 938: 932: 930: 926: 925: 923: 922: 920:Two-Seat Scout 917: 912: 907: 902: 896: 894: 893:Scouts/bombers 890: 889: 887: 886: 880: 878: 877:Torpedo bomber 874: 873: 871: 870: 865: 860: 854: 852: 848: 847: 845: 844: 839: 834: 829: 824: 819: 814: 809: 804: 799: 794: 789: 784: 779: 774: 769: 763: 761: 754: 750: 749: 741: 740: 733: 726: 718: 708: 707: 692: 680:Air Enthusiast 675: 660: 645: 637: 635: 632: 629: 628: 614: 597: 588: 576: 567: 555: 546: 532: 510: 500: 499: 497: 494: 493: 492: 481: 480: 468: 465: 464: 463: 457: 435: 434: 428: 422: 416: 413:Maximum speed: 402: 401: 387: 381: 375: 369: 363: 342: 339: 338: 337: 331: 330: 316: 315: 309: 308: 306:United Kingdom 293: 290: 289: 288: 284: 281: 277: 274: 267: 262: 259: 255:Vickers Gunbus 243:came from the 230:Charles Samson 188:Sopwith S PG N 164: 161: 137: 134: 103:Sopwith Gunbus 97: 96: 94:23 (Gunbuses) 91:12 (Seaplanes) 89: 83: 82: 73: 69: 68: 65: 61: 60: 55: 51: 50: 48:United Kingdom 45: 39: 38: 35: 30: 26: 25: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1408: 1397: 1394: 1392: 1389: 1387: 1384: 1382: 1379: 1378: 1376: 1361: 1358: 1356: 1355:Herbert Smith 1353: 1352: 1350: 1346: 1340: 1337: 1335: 1332: 1330: 1327: 1325: 1322: 1320: 1317: 1315: 1312: 1310: 1307: 1305: 1302: 1300: 1297: 1295: 1292: 1290: 1287: 1285: 1282: 1280: 1277: 1275: 1272: 1270: 1267: 1265: 1262: 1260: 1257: 1255: 1252: 1250: 1247: 1245: 1242: 1240: 1237: 1235: 1232: 1230: 1227: 1225: 1222: 1220: 1217: 1215: 1212: 1210: 1207: 1205: 1202: 1200: 1197: 1195: 1192: 1190: 1187: 1185: 1182: 1180: 1177: 1175: 1172: 1170: 1167: 1165: 1162: 1160: 1157: 1155: 1152: 1150: 1147: 1146: 1144: 1140: 1134: 1131: 1129: 1126: 1125: 1122: 1119: 1118: 1115: 1112: 1111: 1108: 1105: 1103: 1100: 1099: 1096: 1093: 1091: 1088: 1086: 1083: 1081: 1078: 1076: 1073: 1071: 1068: 1066: 1063: 1061: 1058: 1057: 1054: 1051: 1049: 1046: 1044: 1041: 1040: 1038: 1034: 1024: 1021: 1020: 1018: 1016:Sports tourer 1014: 1008: 1005: 1004: 1002: 1000:Ground attack 998: 992: 989: 987: 984: 982: 979: 977: 974: 972: 969: 967: 964: 962: 959: 957: 954: 952: 949: 947: 944: 942: 939: 937: 934: 933: 931: 927: 921: 918: 916: 913: 911: 908: 906: 903: 901: 898: 897: 895: 891: 885: 882: 881: 879: 875: 869: 866: 864: 861: 859: 856: 855: 853: 849: 843: 840: 838: 835: 833: 830: 828: 825: 823: 820: 818: 815: 813: 810: 808: 805: 803: 800: 798: 795: 793: 790: 788: 785: 783: 780: 778: 775: 773: 770: 768: 765: 764: 762: 758: 755: 751: 746: 739: 734: 732: 727: 725: 720: 719: 716: 712: 705: 704:0-900435-15-1 701: 697: 693: 690: 686: 682: 681: 676: 673: 672:1-55750-082-7 669: 665: 661: 658: 657:0-356-01473-8 654: 650: 647:Bruce, J. M. 646: 643: 640:Bruce, J. M. 639: 638: 623: 621: 619: 611: 607: 601: 592: 583: 581: 571: 562: 560: 550: 541: 539: 537: 527: 525: 523: 521: 519: 517: 515: 505: 501: 491: 488: 487: 486: 485: 484:Related lists 479: 476: 475: 474: 473: 461: 458: 456: 452: 448: 445: 444: 443: 440: 432: 429: 426: 423: 420: 417: 414: 411: 410: 409: 407: 399: 396:water-cooled 395: 391: 388: 385: 382: 379: 376: 373: 370: 367: 364: 361: 358: 357: 356: 354: 349: 347: 336: 333: 332: 329: 318: 317: 314: 311: 310: 307: 296: 295: 285: 282: 278: 275: 272: 268: 265: 264: 258: 256: 252: 251: 246: 242: 237: 235: 231: 228: 224: 219: 216: 212: 207: 203: 198: 196: 195:rotary engine 193: 189: 184: 182: 178: 174: 170: 160: 158: 154: 151: 147: 143: 133: 131: 127: 123: 119: 115: 112: 108: 104: 95: 90: 85: 84: 81: 77: 74: 71: 70: 66: 64:First flight 63: 62: 59: 56: 54:Manufacturer 53: 52: 49: 46: 41: 40: 34: 31: 28: 27: 22: 19: 1324:Three-seater 1228: 945: 791: 710: 695: 678: 663: 648: 641: 609: 600: 591: 570: 549: 504: 483: 482: 478:Vickers FB.5 471: 470: 459: 446: 438: 436: 430: 424: 418: 412: 405: 403: 389: 383: 377: 371: 365: 359: 352: 350: 345: 344: 248: 240: 238: 220: 201: 199: 187: 185: 166: 150:Rear Admiral 140:In 1913 the 139: 102: 100: 93: 87:Number built 18: 1309:1½ Strutter 1224:Grasshopper 910:1½ Strutter 406:Performance 390:Powerplant: 280:landplanes. 116:based on a 1375:Categories 1264:Salamander 1007:Salamander 634:References 419:Endurance: 384:Wing area: 118:floatplane 1348:Designers 1244:L.R.T.Tr. 1095:3F.2 (II) 929:Seaplanes 807:L.R.T.Tr. 689:0143-5450 455:Lewis gun 453:(7.7 mm) 398:V8 engine 372:Wingspan: 346:Data from 292:Operators 239:The name 227:Commander 153:Mark Kerr 120:built by 1329:Triplane 1299:Sociable 1164:Bat-Boat 1154:Atlantic 1149:Antelope 1090:3F.2 (I) 976:Type 860 971:Type 807 936:Bat-Boat 842:Triplane 760:Fighters 747:aircraft 467:See also 439:Armament 261:Variants 177:Eleusina 1339:Wallaby 1319:Tadpole 1314:Tabloid 1304:Swallow 1294:Sparrow 1279:Snapper 1269:Scooter 1254:Rainbow 1204:Dolphin 1179:Bulldog 1174:Buffalo 1142:By name 915:Tabloid 905:Sparrow 851:Bombers 837:Swallow 822:Snapper 782:Dolphin 772:Bulldog 767:Buffalo 753:By role 745:Sopwith 451:.303 in 378:Height: 366:Length: 225:led by 223:Dunkirk 215:Lincoln 206:Sunbeam 181:hangars 122:Sopwith 114:biplane 24:Gunbus 1229:Gunbus 1214:Dragon 1199:Cuckoo 1194:Cobham 884:Cuckoo 863:Cobham 792:Gunbus 787:Dragon 702:  687:  670:  655:  460:Bombs: 421:2.5 hr 328:Greece 325:  303:  283:Gunbus 276:S PG N 241:Gunbus 234:Hendon 157:Anzani 126:Greece 111:pusher 1289:Snipe 1284:Snark 1274:Snail 1259:Rhino 1234:Hippo 1189:Camel 1107:2FR.2 868:Rhino 832:Snipe 827:Snark 817:Snail 797:Hippo 777:Camel 496:Notes 447:Guns: 360:Crew: 67:1914 29:Role 1209:Dove 1159:Baby 1133:TF.2 1128:TF.1 1114:FS.1 1102:FR.2 1085:8F.1 1080:7F.1 1075:5F.1 1070:4F.1 1065:2F.1 1053:2B.2 986:Baby 900:Baby 700:ISBN 685:ISSN 668:ISBN 653:ISBN 392:1 × 101:The 1249:Pup 1219:Gnu 1169:Bee 1121:T.1 1060:F.1 1048:B.2 1043:B.1 1023:Gnu 858:B.1 812:Pup 608:". 449:1× 362:Two 250:bus 213:of 1377:: 617:^ 579:^ 558:^ 535:^ 513:^ 257:. 737:e 730:t 723:v 706:. 674:. 659:. 604:"

Index

Fighter aircraft
United Kingdom
Sopwith Aviation Company
Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Hellenic Navy
First World War
pusher
biplane
floatplane
Sopwith
Greece
Royal Naval Air Service
Sopwith Aviation Company
Greek Naval Air Service
Rear Admiral
Mark Kerr
Anzani
First World War
Royal Naval Air Service
Eleusina
hangars
Gnome Monosoupape
rotary engine
Sunbeam
Robey & Co. Ltd.
Lincoln
Dunkirk
Commander
Charles Samson
Hendon

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