Editing Sopwith Cuckoo (section)

==Design and development==
In October 1916, Commodore [[Murray Sueter]], the [[Air Department]]'s Superintendent of Aircraft Construction, solicited [[Sopwith Aviation Company|Sopwith]] for a single-seat aircraft capable of carrying a 1,000&nbsp;lb torpedo and sufficient fuel to provide an endurance of four hours. The resulting aircraft, designated T.1 by Sopwith,<ref name="Robertson p125">Robertson 1970, p. 125.</ref> was a large, three-bay biplane. Because the T.1 was designed to operate from carrier decks, its wings were hinged to fold backwards. The T.1 could take off from a carrier deck in four seconds, but it was not capable of making a carrier landing and no [[arresting gear]] was fitted.<ref name="Davis p122">Davis 1999, p. 122.</ref><ref name="Robertson p127">Robertson 1970, p. 127.</ref> A split-axle undercarriage allowed the aircraft to carry a 1,000&nbsp;lb Mk. IX torpedo beneath the fuselage.

The prototype T.1 first flew in June [[1917 in aviation|1917]], powered by a 200&nbsp;hp [[Hispano-Suiza 8]]Ba engine.<ref name="Thetford Navy p318">Thetford 1978, p. 318.</ref> Official trials commenced in July 1917 and the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] issued production orders for 100 aircraft in August.<ref name="Robertson p125">Robertson 1970, p. 125.</ref> Contractors Fairfield Engineering and Pegler & Company had no experience as aircraft manufacturers, however, resulting in substantial production delays.<ref name="Layman Naval p191">Layman 2002, p. 191.</ref> Moreover, the [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5|S.E.5a]] had priority for the limited supplies of the Hispano-Suiza 8. Redesign of the T.1 airframe to accommodate the heavier [[Sunbeam Arab]] incurred further delays.<ref name="Layman Naval p191">Layman 2002, p. 191.</ref>

In February 1918, the Admiralty issued a production order to [[Blackburn Aircraft]], an experienced aircraft manufacturer. Blackburn delivered its first T.1 in May 1918.<ref name="Thetford Navy p318">Thetford 1978, p. 318.</ref> The aircraft immediately experienced undercarriage and tailskid failures, requiring redesign of those components.<ref name="Robertson p127">Robertson 1970, p. 127.</ref> The T.1 also required an enlarged rudder and offset fin to combat its tendency to swing to the right.<ref name="Robertson p127">Robertson 1970, p. 127.</ref> Fairfield and Pegler finally began production in August and October, respectively.<ref name="Davis p123">Davis 1999, p. 123.</ref>

A total of 300 T.1s were ordered, but only 90 aircraft had been delivered by the Armistice. A total of 232 aircraft had been completed by the time production ended in 1919. Blackburn Aircraft produced 162 aircraft, while Fairfield Engineering completed 50 and Pegler & Company completed another 20.<ref name="Thetford Navy p318">Thetford 1978, p. 318.</ref> After the Armistice, many T.1s were delivered directly to storage depots at Renfrew and Newcastle.<ref name="Davis p123">Davis 1999, p. 123.</ref>