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The Sopwith aircraft that followed the 1½ Strutter was referred to as its "pup." Although officially named "Scout" or "Type 9901," the Pup name stuck and became the first in a series of animal-based nicknames for Sopwith planes (followed by the Camel, Dolphin, Bulldog, and others). The Pup was intentionally designed to be lightweight and, despite its low horsepower engine, could maintain altitude or "hold its height" in a dogfight. Unlike many of its contemporaries, it had excellent handling qualities and was popular with its pilots.
From late 1916 through the middle of 1917, the Pup flew in frontline service on the Western Front with the British Army Royal Flying Corps and land-based units of the Royal Naval Air Service. It also flew home defense and training missions based in the United Kingdom. The Pup played a significant role with the RNAS as a pioneer of ship-borne air operations, the genesis of naval aviation. Although excellent in combat, the Pup's ultimate success was limited by numerical superiority of German fighter types during this period of the war. Nearly 2,000 Pups were manufactured.
Sopwith Pup armament consisted of a single synchronized .303-inch Vickers machine gun. This relatively light weaponry was considered its primary drawback, leading to development of the twin-Vickers Sopwith Camel.
The Museum's aircraft was built by Carl Swanson of Darien, Wisconsin and is considered to be a masterpiece of replication. It was later acquired by the Museum from Jim Ricklef of California. It is virtually indistinguishable from the original aircraft, right down to the Le Rhône 9C 80-horsepower rotary engine.
The Sopwith aircraft that followed the 1½ Strutter was referred to as its "pup." Although officially named "Scout" or "Type 9901," the Pup name stuck and became the first in a series of animal-based nicknames for Sopwith planes (followed by the Camel, Dolphin, Bulldog, and others). The Pup was intentionally designed to be lightweight and, despite its low horsepower engine, could maintain altitude or "hold its height" in a dogfight. Unlike many of its contemporaries, it had excellent handling qualities and was popular with its pilots.
From late 1916 through the middle of 1917, the Pup flew in frontline service on the Western Front with the British Army Royal Flying Corps and land-based units of the Royal Naval Air Service. It also flew home defense and training missions based in the United Kingdom. The Pup played a significant role with the RNAS as a pioneer of ship-borne air operations, the genesis of naval aviation. Although excellent in combat, the Pup's ultimate success was limited by numerical superiority of German fighter types during this period of the war. Nearly 2,000 Pups were manufactured.
Sopwith Pup armament consisted of a single synchronized .303-inch Vickers machine gun. This relatively light weaponry was considered its primary drawback, leading to development of the twin-Vickers Sopwith Camel.
The Museum's aircraft was built by Carl Swanson of Darien, Wisconsin and is considered to be a masterpiece of replication. It was later acquired by the Museum from Jim Ricklef of California. It is virtually indistinguishable from the original aircraft, right down to the Le Rhône 9C 80-horsepower rotary engine.
