Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Aviation Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · fighter
The Sopwith Pup was a nimble British WWI single-seat fighter biplane renowned for its outstanding handling qualities, which compensated for a relatively modest performance.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.89 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tiny WWI single-seat biplane fighter with equal-span wings
- Single Vickers gun offset to port on the cowling
- Delightful handling made it popular with pilots
A very small and neat single-bay biplane with equal-span wings and a rotary engine; the small size and single gun on the cowl distinguish it from contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Sopwith Pup has a length of 5.89 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.08 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 179 km/h (111 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in late 1916, the Pup quickly won favour with RFC and RNAS pilots for its responsiveness. It was the first aircraft to land on a moving warship, landing on HMS Furious in 1917.
Variants
The standard Pup was produced by Sopwith and several contractors; a few floatplane variants were also built for RNAS use.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RFC and RNAS in France and on Home Defence duties; succeeded by the Camel in frontline use.
Related aircraft
- Sopwith Triplane
- Sopwith 1½ Strutter
- Sopwith Cuckoo
- Sopwith Dolphin
- Airco DH.5
- Albatros D.I
- Albatros D.II
- Albatros D.IV
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