WW1 Sopwith Camel Starts Her Original Rotary Engine

Sopwith F.1 Camel, painted in the colors of Captain Clive Collett of the Royal Flying Corps, took to the skies at the Tauranga City Classics Of The Sky airshow, held at Tauranga Airport, New Zealand.

Flown expertly by Gene De Marco, this aircraft is a stunning example of World War I aviation history brought back to life.

What makes this Sopwith Camel truly special is its original 160-horsepower Gnome rotary engine, almost 100 years old, which still powers the aircraft as it did during WW1.

The Camel, famous for its maneuverability and heavy firepower, was one of the most successful Allied fighters of the war, credited with more enemy kills than any other Allied aircraft.

In the airshow, spectators were treated to a rare sight of this iconic warbird in flight, its distinct rotary engine growl and vintage design impressing the lively crowd.

According to a YouTube user, the rough sound you hear at first meant only three or six cylinders were selected. This is because the engine had nine cylinders and the pilot can control the engine speed by a selectable mechanism, giving them the choice of either nine, six, or three cylinder operations! Pretty neat!