In 1958 Mr K.C.Desmond St.Cyrien started construction of a Sopwith Pup replica at his home in Horley. He secured the registration G-APUP for it. Much later it was allocated the PFA number 1582.
After having started this replica St.Cyrien ‘acquired’ bit by bit, Pup serial N5182 from a store of a French aviation collection. Parts of the replica were disposed of to G.Neale of Canada and others went to the USA.
The original Pup was then put under an intensive period of restoration at Luton and then at Horley. It was completed at Fairoaks with an original Le Rhone engine. It first flew on 11 August 1973, from Fairoaks, as N5182 ‘Shiels’, for ultimate donation to the RAF Museum.
All Aero 