Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was perhaps the perfect flying machine. It was fully aerobatic up to 15,000 ft, had the most delightful flying qualities and was devoid of all vices.
The Pup, which was officially known as the Sopwith Scout, was flying with the RNAS and RFC as early as 1916. It was renowned for its flying manners and was easier to handle than its successors, the Sopwith Camel and Snipe, which were used by the Australian Flying Corps' No 4 Squadron.
Although the Pup did not operate in combat with the corps, at least one Australian achieved fame flying the aircraft. While on patrol the pilot suddenly found himself surrounded by ten Albatross Scouts of the famed Richthofen Circus. In the ensuing dogfight he fought his way home - to a Military Cross.
Another historical event occurred in December 1917, when a Pup was successfully launched from the light cruiser HMAS Sydney, thus pioneering Australian naval aviation.
Sopwith Pups were operating with the Australian Air Corps in 1920, and in June of that year Pup C523 (later A4-3) appeared in the Melbourne Exhibition Air Show. In 1921, eleven Pups (RAF serials C521-C528, C530-C532) were allotted to No 1 Flying Training School as intermediate fighter-trainers.
In December 1924, 'The Australasian' published photographs of the first RAAF Aerial Pageant. In pride of place was a remarkable picture of a Pup "balloon-chasing", a stunt at which the highly manoeuvrable aircraft had no equal.
The Sopwith Pup remained in service at Point Cook until 1925. After that time, there does not appear to be any record of the aircraft being operated by the RAAF.
TECHNICAL DATA: Sopwith Pup (Scout)
DESCRIPTION:
Single-seat fighter/trainer; wood structure; fabric covered.
POWER PLANT:
One 80hp Le Rhone.
DIMENSIONS:
Span 8.08 m (26ft 6in); length 5.89 m (19ft 4in); height 2.87 m (9ft 5in).
WEIGHTS:
Empty, 357 kg; loaded, 556 kg.
ARMAMENT:
One fixed synchronised Vickers machine gun.
PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed 178 km/h (96 kt); climb - 2 minutes to 2,000ft (610 m), 35 minutes to 16,000ft (4677 m); endurance - 3 hours; service ceiling - 17,500ft (5334 m).
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