Sopwith Tabloid
The Sopwith Tabloid and Sopwith Schneider (floatplane) were British biplanes, originally designed as sports aircraft and later adapted for military use. They were among the first successful types to be built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. The "Tabloid", so named because of its small size, caused a sensation when it made its first public appearance.
| Tabloid/Schneider | |
|---|---|
| Role | Sports/scout aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Sopwith Aviation Company |
| Designer | Fred Sigrist |
| First flight | 1913 |
| Introduction | 1914 |
| Retired | 1918 |
| Primary users | Royal Flying Corps Royal Naval Air Service |
| Number built | About 42 Tabloids, 136 Schneiders |
| Variants | Sopwith Baby |
A floatplane variant was prepared in under a month and entered for the 1914 Schneider Trophy race where it was piloted by Howard Pixton. This aircraft won the competition against minimal opposition.
Production orders for both types were placed by the military, and although a few Gnome Lambda-powered Tabloids saw limited service in the early war years, some Schneiders were still in Naval service four years later, at the end of the First World War.