From the Carolinas Aviation Museum
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THE CAM News. A Changing Newsletter for a museum on the move!
From the Director
Last month I dedicated this letter to our mission statement. This month I bring to you our mission statement in action.
Over the past two years, Fort Mill High Engineering and Nation Ford High Auto Tech students built a full- scaled replica of a Sopwith Camel aircraft. The inspiration to build that particular type of aircraft was both personal and historical to the area, especially Fort Mill, SC. The aircraft is a replica of the type flown by Colonel Elliot White Springs, a WWI fighter pilot and flying ace for the British Royal Flying Corps who later ran Springs Cotton Mills, a textile mill started by his father.
The aircraft has been delivered and "rebuilt" by the students this week and will be on display in the museum gift shop. Students used the school's engineering facilities for design work and construction and incorporated computer-aided manufacturing techniques as well as hands-on construction of the airframe and engine. This project represents how an aviation story of the past inspired a future generation to build this aircraft, inspiring many of them to seriously consider a field of aeronautical engineering.
We will have a dedication ceremony for this new exhibit on August 23rd during Community Day.
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"Spotlight on the Camel!"
If you mention the Sopwith Camel,
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US Air Force Photo
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many folks conjurer up images of Snoopy shaking his fist at the Red Baron. But the Sopwith Camel (original name Sopwith Biplane F.1) was was the most successful British fighter aircraft of WWI. The aircraft had a very distinctive look with the hump formed by cowling over the guns (which is where it got the name CAMEL). It featured a rotary engine and two 303 Vickers machine guns mounted directly in front of the pilot with synchronized gearing to protect the propeller. The aircraft was manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company, made its first flight in 1916 and was introduced to the war effort in 1917.
The rotary engine was unique in that unlike the more common "radial" engine, the crankshaft remained stationary while the cylinders (and propeller) rotated around it creating a severe gyroscopic effect. The aircraft was awkward for new pilots and especially difficult to handle when making a left turn. But it could out turn any fighter aircraft in a right turn. So the experienced pilots would often turn right and come around rather than make a left turn. This wasn't really a bad thing because the Camel is credited with 1294 kills in 17 months during the war.
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Community Day at Carolinas Aviation Museum.
Come out to Community Day at CAM on Saturday August 23!
- Free Admission to the museum for everyone!!!
- Meet and talk with a passenger from Flight 1549, Miracle on the Hudson.
- Young people can talk with our experienced docents and learn about career possibilities in aviation.
- Help paint a real aircraft
- Build and fly your own aviation related crafts.
Come out, join the fun, and learn what Carolinas Aviation Museum has to offer !!!
Back to the top
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The Early Years of Aviation
From the CAM Library. More literature from the early years of aviation. Zoom in on your computer for some of the fine print.
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Plane Spotter!
Can you identify this aircraft? The answer will be in next months newsletter.
July's aircraft was an -
Antonov An-2 Russian built biplane designed for remote unsurfaced areas. It has a gross weight of 12000 lbs, useful load of 4700 lbs, a cruise speed of 120 mph and although no stall speed is published, it can be flown with full control at only 30 mph. Among its many uses was parachute training in the Polish Air Force and today for skydiving.
Be sure to check out our website at:
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