Rare bird

Flight Journal, Aug 2000 by Hastings, Paul

A rare replica of a WW I biplane fighter is now on display at the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Museum at Wigram. After an extensive three-year restoration, the Sopwith Pup replica-C/N SS/SPR/001 N6460 (exG-BIAT/N6160-was officially rolled out at the launch of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Commemorative Reserve.

On its first flight in July 1986 at Old Warden, UK, it crashed after its Le Rhone rotary engine, being run on an over-rich mixture, cut out. Australian warbird enthusiast Rob Greinert bought it, and in 1994, he arranged with the RNZAF Museum to swap it for a battered P-47D Thunderbolt.

When it arrived in New Zealand, the Pup was in a sorry state: the wing spars, three of the four fuselage longerons and most of the subsidiary members were broken, and the rudder pedals were smashed. By late 1997, the fuselage had been repaired and work was progressing on the wings; it had also arrived with some new parts-undercarriage V-struts and engine cowl, for example-already made. At the museum, volunteer Noel Brown did most of the restoration work.

Although the aircraft is a replica, some parts, including the 80hp Le Rhone rotary Pup engine, the oil pump and propeller, are originals, as are the cockpit instruments. They still need a few more parts before the Pup will be completely fitted out. -Paul Hastings