Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith
(1888-1989), Engineer and pioneer airmanSitter in 5 portraits
Sopwith was the first British aircraft designer and his firm was famous for British World War I military aircraft such as the Sopwith Camel and Triplane. His mechanical aptitude and enthusiasm led him into the infant aviation scene in 1910. After teaching himself to fly, gaining the aviator's certificate no. 31, and setting up flying records, he found the Sopwith School of Flying in February 1912, and in June, the Sopwith Aviation Company Ltd. By the outbreak of war in August 1914 the Sopwith Aviation Company had become one of the leading early British aircraft manufacturers, producing more than 18,000 aircrafts of sixteen types.
Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith
by Ivan Opffer
chalk, 1934
NPG 5451
Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith
by Elliott & Fry
quarter-plate glass negative, 25 September 1961
NPG x100938
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