Söderslätts Flygklubb

Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith, (18 January 1888 – 27 January 1989)

Thomas Sopwith Documentary 1984, 29:49
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgxCioiN5pQ

Sopwith Pup, 22:45.
"The sort of machine you could give to anybody, and he wouldn´t hurt himself."
80hk.

Det är nästan exakt Håkan Sjöbergs ord om Eurostaren. Cirkeln är sluten.

Sopwith-företaget likviderades över en natt när kriget tog slut, och ombildades till Hawker, så han är pappa även till Hawker Hurricane och Harrier.
WW1-planen byggdes utan ritningar, bara från "sketcher". I alla fall Sopwith-planen.
Också intressant när han berättar om hur Wright´s plan styrdes.

Det är ju en Hurricane, och kan inte skapa hur många trådar som helst så får posta här...

...men detta är obetalbart! Första flygningen i en Hurricane med helt sanslös inlevelse!

Battle of Britain pilot Bill Green - Fighting High interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5c6_iv7SHo

Och denna, varför fick jag inte se den före radiotestet!
Bill Green Battle of Britain Fighting High excerpt 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV_JSBS8qy8

Rise of Flight - The Sopwith Pup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1-i0mtXy-w

WW1 Sopwith Pup N9917
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMb8WCPShq0

The Pup design was one of classic simplicity using a fabric covered wooden structure to achieve light weight. It was considered to be under powered but, despite this, proved highly manoeuvrable with an excellent rate of climb at all levels up to 15,000 feet. In addition it achieved the reputation of having the most delightful flying qualities, and it certainly commanded respect from its enemies as a fighting machine. William Beardmore were contracted to build 50 Pups under licence from Sopwith. They were to be armed with Le Prieur Rockets which were used against observation balloons with some success. The Rockets were fired electrically from about 200 yards, the knife edge in the nose cone pierced the fabric and the escaping gas was then ignited by the rocket. Some of these Pups had transparent areas fitted to the centre section of the upper mainplanes to improve visibility for the pilot.

SERVICE HISTORY The Pup followed the 1½ Strutter and preceded the Triplane in Sopwith history, entering service in 1916, first with the RNAS and later with the RFC. It was used both over the Western Front and, later, for home defence duties. The RNAS used it for pioneering sea trials and in 1917 one made the first ever landing on a ship at sea. This particular number, 9917, served for a time on HMS Manxman.

N9917 G-EBKY Originally a Sopwith Dove the aeroplane had a number of owners prior to its acquisition in 1936 by Richard Shuttleworth. After being stored at Old Warden it was restored and rebuilt as a standard Pup.

Specification
Span 26 ft 6 in ( ca 8 meter)
Overall length 19 ft 4 in
Engine 80hp Le Rhone 9 cylinder rotary
Weight empty 787 lbs (357 kg)
Weight loaded 1,225 lbs (556 kg)
Maximum speed at sea level 112 mph (97 kt)
Armament One .303 calibre Vickers machine gun

Landing speed 60 mph (52 kt)