The WW1 AHT pilots and friends invite you to join a chat session on rotary engines as they developed in WW1. Jean-Michel Munn will be leading the chat having been the Trust’s pilot flying the Sopwith Snipe when it was in the UK 2015 – 2017. The Snipe is powered by the Bentley BR2a – W O Bentley’s finest design. With the cylinders rotating a round a fixed crankshaft, the gyroscopic effect requires some unexpected control inputs to maintain the chosen flightpath. It has no throttle and could be a challenge to slow down for landing or catch up in a formation for the newly arrived pilot. The power weight ratio was much improved over the inline engines of the time even if it did consume massive amounts of Castrol R when running – leaving most of the oil on the fuselage.
Join the WW1 AHT pilots and friends for a chat session on Thur 3rd Mar 22 at 1930 to find out more
