Sopwith Rhino

Sopwith Rhino Triplane Bomber

Sopwith Rhino Triplane Bomber

First flying in October 1917, the Sopwith Rhino was a two-seat triplane bomber. Designed as a private venture by Sopwith, it featured an internal bomb load of up to 205kg. Armament consisted of a synchronised Vickers machine gun firing through the propeller disc and a Lewis machine gun in the rear cockpit.

Testing found that the aircraft was nose heavy and the Galloway Adriatic six-cylinder, water-cooled inline engine was subject to overheating. Testing was undertaken at Martlesham Heath in February and March 1918, but it had a poor ceiling and low speed, and was rejected as a service type. Only two prototypes were built.