Sopwith Pup

Sopwith Pup
Image caption
Description
Role
Crew
First Flight
Entered Service
Manufacturer
Dimensions
Length	ft in	m
Wingspan	ft in	m
Height	ft in	m
Wing Area	ft²	m²
Weights
Empty	lb	kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum Takeoff	lb	kg
Capacity
Powerplant
Engines
Power	hp	kW
Performance
Maximum Speed	mph	km/h
Combat Range	miles	km
Ferry Range	miles	km
Service Ceiling	ft	m
Rate of Climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing Loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight
Power/Mass	hp/lb	kW/kg
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns
Bombs
Missiles
Rockets
Other

The Sopwith Pup was a single seater biplane fighter aircraft used by the British in World War I. It was manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company and was officially named the Sopwith Scout. It was called the Pup because it looked like a smaller version of the Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter.

The Pup was a highly regarded aircraft. It was pleasant to fly and was simple and reliable. Its large wings gave it a good rate of climb and agility. It was underpowered compared to the German Albatros DIII but could turn twice in the space of a single turn by an Albatros.

It was used to great effect by both the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. The first Pups reached the Western Front in October of 1916 and a total of 1,770 were built. After being removed from frontline service in mid-1917 they were used by a Home Defense squadron against Zeppelins. On August 2nd 1917, a Sopwith Pup flown by Sqn Cdr Edwin Dunning became the first aircraft to land aboard a moving ship, HMS Furious. Dunning was killed on his third landing when the Pup fell over the side of the ship.

The Pup was based on the personal plane of Sopwith's chief test pilot Harry Hawker. The Pup was powered by either an 80 or 100 horsepower (60 or 75 kW) air cooled rotary engine. It had a wing span of 26 ft 6 inches (8.1 m), a length of 19 ft 3.75 inches (5.9 m) and a height of 9 ft 5 inches (2.9 m). It weighed 856 pounds (388 kg) empty and 1,225 pounds (556 kg) when fully loaded. It's maximum speed was 106 mph (171 km/h) and it had a ceiling of 18,500 feet (5,600 m). It could fly missions of upto 3 hours in length.