Sopwith Pup - Update - Engine Start

Here's an update on our Sopwith Pup restoration, we've been prepping for a possible trip to Oshkosh. It's been a while since the last update clip, so we wanted to give a short overview of what's transpired over the last 15 months, before concluding the clip by showing you the first start up attempts. After a few first hiccups we . . . well, check it out and see for yourself.
Hope you enjoy . . . and as always, we love to hear your comments.
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[@joestephan1111]

Thank you for keeping aviation heritage, and history in general, alive & in people's minds. Beautiful work!

[@williamrobin2638]

For those who are interested, this aircraft is painted as the Pup flown by the Canadian ace Joseph Fall when he was serving with the Royal Naval Air Service. The 'Betty' and 'Phyllis' painted on the sides of the aircraft were the names of his sisters. He ended the war as the only pilot awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with 2 bars for 'gallantry in the air'.

[@JimJones-uy6tz]

thank you for that information! I thought the names were his wife and sweetheart, hoping they never meet!

[@rizzie8066]

Thanks for the info!

[@1Brushon]

So nice to see some recognition of Canadian Contribution to the great war.

[@amseez]

👍

[@Anonymous_1210]

There is a replica in Langely, Vancouver. But it has a flat four not a rotary

[@audleyd.gaston3928]

I absolutely admire - and envy, a bit- Kermit Week’s: He has satisfied both of the ESSENTIAL criteria for Career Success: (a) He loves what he does, and (B) He does what he loves! ... and puts on a great show, to boot!

[@crooked-halo]

I actually love building F-35s. I know it's not a choice such as you describe, and like Kermit Weeks has, but I anticipate going to Lockheed Martin & building that awesome jet. I normally work 7 days a week and happily pull 61 hours.

[@russellnotestine6436]

The guy flippin' the prop is a LOT better friend than I've ever been to anyone

[@sailr]

He has got to be worn out after all that!

[@jasonodaniel3927]

He's not doing himself any favors by spinning it so close to the center

[@Payne2view]

A gorgeous Sopwith Pup with that evocative engine sound. It is always great to see one alive.

[@tribestribes2555]

This was just what I needed to feel just fine for the rest of the day. What a fine restauration of that old plane.👍🇸🇪

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

Great vid as usual The world of aviation will always owe Mr Weeks. Thank you for your work

[@PiersLawsonBrown1972]

Wonderful to see such a loving restoration and that sweet sweet sound......Love the name Betty for her too.

[@katybrennan8222]

That's a cute airplane! You gents did a fine job restoring this gem!!!

[@mrvoyagerm]

I had the mags rebuilt on my Cessna and after that it started up even before I had the key turned all the way! Very encouraging! This Sopwith ran well once it had been "attended to" and that would be very encouraging as well.

[@sailr]

I really miss going over to FOF to do research for my models. Kermit, you are living the dream. Good on ya man, Good on ya.

[@kevinwilliams287]

I love the Wirraway in the background. Go Aussie!

[@tecnaman9097]

Almost ready to do battle with the Red Baron! Beautiful job. Amazing craftsman at work.

[@kevinmorrison1553]

Just like kick starting my 500 single. Ignition off to prime, then on and careful because it may try to bite you. Great looking Pup!

[@RTD1947]

Nice editing!! Great presentation. Thank you for no ads at the front!! Refreshing.

[@ruthlessronnie2143]

I was cheering when you got her fired up ... would love to work for you .. Your inspiration and passion fuels many. God Bless you

[@robmcqueen6979]

Your content is absolutely fantastic Kermit, very interesting, inspiring and educational. Never stop!

[@michaelwhite8031]

What a beautiful plane. Kingston upon Thames is just down the road from me.

[@1musicsearcher]

Congratulations! That pup is beautiful!!

[@dsinclairTUBE]

Such a good looking thing! Can't wait to see her in the air!

[@steveskouson9620]

Beautiful sounding (and looking) aircraft! When I was in high school, my metal shop teacher was making replacement carburetors for the Le Rhone engines. steve

[@tomclark6271]

Kermy, great video! We used to start our LeRohne 80 at full throttle after priming all nine cylinders. No need to worry about oil pressure, with the total loss oil system there isn't any. Oh, and don't forget to turn on the castor oil (what a mess!). We always had a big crowd on hand at the Pearson Air Museum to see it run. The airplane was a replica Nieuport 24bis project stared by Johnny Hart in Vancover, WA, USA, and finished and flown by Ron Oches in Madras, OR. The airplane is currently on display at the Seattle Museum of Flight, Boing Field. Very seriously tho, I felt less than totally comfortable in the roomy cockpit with all of the ingredients for a fire right there in my lap... the leaky carburetor and the fuel and oil tanks, AND the single magneto! The first item on the check list was to have your head examined!

[@xzqzq]

I notice the situation with desperate pilots, covered in castor oil, is not addressed...

[@billwelter4101]

Fantastic! Beautiful plane, Kermit has the BEST job in the world

[@jockellis]

When I was a teenager during the ‘60s in Atlanta, someone who lived on Howell Mill built a Sopwith. I saw it on the tractor trailer flatbed as they were hauling it away. No machine gun!

[@NesconProductions]

Reminded me of starting my old lawnmower (get the ether..). The Pup ran better & smoked less than my old machine in the end lol.. I've seen Snoopy face the Red Baron, anxious to see how Kermit fares against him.. Best wishes to the entire crew at Fantasy Of Flight & congrats on getting her running again..!

[@graymodeler]

Thanks so much to the big prop swinging guy! Very hard job. Give that man a day off!

[@dortoh1]

Very cool! Love the sound. Beautiful restoration work as always.

[@My84Lude]

Thank you for keeping her in the air.

[@fw1421]

Beautiful restoration. Very nice job! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@craigpennington1251]

A beautiful looking craft. Just a few bugs to work off and you'll be shooting Jerries out of the sky by the week end. ( You all work hard to keep this stuff going and I do appreciate it tremendously).

[@infinitysearcher8858]

Such a delight to see it run up to speed!

[@marchindy]

Wow thanks again for taking the time to make these videos. So great to have a video history of your restorations, wish everybody would do this.

[@ironbark1822]

Ah man, my absolute favourite allied fighter from WW1. Beautiful, beautiful lady.

[@ChrisB257]

Gorgeous! Massive amount of work gone in. I seem to recall that with the Pup and Camel - engine torque effect was very significant - particularly with some maneuvers. Great to hear the rotary burping away! :)

[@xsbuilder1]

As they say " the devil is in the details" but your crew did good in the end. The Pup has nice proportions and it seems lively on the ground during the engine runup. I'm thinking the comments I read about pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability are right on.

[@wrightflyer7855]

Well that was certainly suspenseful, and I'm sure it will be easier next time. A fine job by all who worked on her.

[@julianneale6128]

Absolutely love the way Kermit is with his boys. The boys are all masters in what they do!

[@dboboc]

Yeah, they can’t cant figure out 100 year old technology...

[@woooster17]

A thing of utter beauty.... some very talented people

[@hackneysaregreat]

Looking and sounding great!!! Absolutely great job!

[@xpump876]

awesome restoration - keep em flying!

[@Desertduleler_88]

Great restoration, nice colour scheme.

[@TheMDJ2000]

Wow that is just beautiful work - well done! And what a pretty aircraft.

[@SubversiveInnkeeper]

Beautiful restoration, cheers sir!

[@bjofuruh]

I know why this plane survived the war. It was all over before they got the engine started.

[@streetcat1510]

bjofuruh,boy did I laugh at your comment!

[@mikemakuh5319]

Yes, but it still would be fun to fly one.

[@jerryhubbard4461]

That's cold. lol

[@johnbecay6887]

bjofuruh...good one!

[@1silvervespa]

Bet ya drive automatic ......

[@sski]

A sweet piece of aviation history. I can't wait for Oshkosh 2018. I wanna meet you and the crew Kermit.

[@johnsartelle8320]

Most of the Fighters from that Era were beautiful.

[@TheIntrovertSpeaks]

I love how raw it is!! Beautiful work!

[@daviddorado5632]

Simply amazing. Beatiful restoriation. I'd work there for free sweeping floors!

[@daviddorado5632]

Is there an apply box or some email to apply??

[@darbz2k]

I just saw her run at Oshkosh - lovely machine!

[@pamshewan9181]

Gorgeous plane perfect for the “Wizard of Orlampa”

[@mrrolandlawrence]

i used to go to school about a mile from where that aeroplane was made! by the way - beautiful paint job.

[@leesherman100]

Atta boy Kermit. Love your vids and your smooth facility.

[@richardcarew2481]

The engine is a work of art... the primary reason for all the effort is the carburetors.. the Brits have interesting ideas about fuel delivery, assuming that magnetos are adjusted correctly... a spark advance might help

[@richardcarew2481]

Take acetone through a water filter like a diesel engine and mix hempseed oil to provide top end lubrication... in a spray bottle.. right in the throat of the carburetor

[@cybersurfer2010]

I want to work there... Very nice work!

[@steveUSMCNOTOLERANCE]

I see the Sikorsky S-39 in the background. I remember when Dick Jackson owed it when it was at Rochester N.H.. I worked at 7B3 North Hampton N.H.for Darian Banfield until he died flying a Bamboo Bomber off floats (Sky Kings) type plane back to 7B3 , North Hampton N.H. Peter Jackson ,the guy who directed Lord Of the Rings in New Zealand had us do a DR3 ( There are no Real ones flying ) as far as I know there all repicares , Albatros D-VA and a SE5A (rep) rebuilt and shipped to him in New Zealand. Then I worked for Craig Sinclair for a few years. Did the fabric Paint and rigging on 3 DR3's and every type of tail wheel and strut. type plane. If it wasn't a tail wheel plane, I didn't touch it. I owed an Aronca 1941 65CA .And built 2 new wings for it ,tube welding on the tail .Rebuilt the whole plane. I believe she flew better than any cub. Lots of respect for what you do. Steve Page , Semper Fi

[@davidorama6690]

Wonderful work. Well done.

[@MARKLOCKWOOD2012]

Cool i thought it wasn’t going to go. Thanks for letting her roll her prop.

[@9HighFlyer9]

Hurricane Andrew? Like 1992 in South Florida? That's a long time for this bird to be grounded. She wants to fly, hope she makes it to Oshkosh.

[@fudogwhisperer3590]

Thank goodness for progress..........

[@edwardlove4300]

The "Pup" is just out of this world!

[@t.thompson21]

What a beauty!

[@Pointtostones]

Absolutely gorgeous. I live close by and I would love to come see this.

[@frontcentermusician]

18:38 engine starts. Nice sound!

[@davidspurlock3836]

It is so beautiful !

[@stevegarbacz8573]

What a beautiful bird you have there !!

[@OvertravelX]

She sounds happy!

[@quinnjim]

It finally runs at 18:37. Very cool.

[@pR1mal.]

Beautiful.

[@jengar6258]

Fantastic update guys, she's a beauty! :)

[@arttafil6792]

Jengar kinda like a Jaguar

[@peterartboy]

Beautiful plane.

[@trwagner1]

Wonderful... best one word response I can come up with. Awesome? Fantastic? superb? supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?

[@DavidReese2ndA]

That Beautiful Sound... love it.. and its loud!

[@daseladi]

A beautifully restored little Pup. Such a shame they did not start like that during the war. No one would have ever got killed.

[@leecrt967]

One of the prettiest aeroplanes ever designed and built.

[@IMRROcom]

At some point you or have one of your staff talk about how those rotary engine work, everyone seems to cover the mechanical parts. More interested in the carburetor and intake, wiring to the plugs and points, oiling system etc. as a rotating mass just would like to see how it is done. I'm sure they are not as sophisticated as something I work on with rotating slip rings and mercury to connect electrical and signals etc.

[@KermitWeeks444]

I'll try to explain it all in the next "Kermie Q's" episode.

[@douglasater8580]

Excellent video, thank you for sharing

[@teretz571]

ifly an rc version in one third scale at 120 inches it has a strong presence in the air, now if i could just make it sound like yours it would be perfect love it

[@P61guy61]

Excellent! Thank you for posting!

[@luisferreira8939]

Gotta love the Pup

[@LeifDjurfeldt]

FANTASTIC!!!!

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

Love these Sopwith biplanes

[@Bugdriver49]

Always a sigh of relief when she keeps ticking.....lovely. Where's she going to park at Oshkosh.....warbird, vintage, vintage warbird, historic...iconic ?? sigh...

[@gregellis3859]

I wonder how you walk into hangars like Mr. Weeks has and see all the options you have to fly and try to figure out which one you may take to Oshkosh. Oh to have that problem :)

[@thomasquinn284]

Amazing look at the past. Just how brave were the men that flew this beat!

[@rasonjason4066]

More money more problems

[@dennism103]

I was going to buy one but nvr mind! I'm going to buy a Japanese zero and bomb pearl harbor, this video drove me over the edge! Don't even try to stop me!

[@PilotFun101]

Thanks for sharing! Great Job!

[@donrinker9728]

The next update may show what happened shortly thereafter.. The cowl blew off in flight when Kermit was near final, split the prop, numerous rips on the fabric, destroyed the upper wing leading edge. Some damage to the engine pushrods,etc. The remainder of the cowl was wrapped around the upper wing. Barely made it back to a safe landing. Back to the shop. Great piloting skills the bring it in.

[@kh40yr]

Love the Chitty Chitty Bang Bangs!!. So cool, ya drool!.

[@sailr]

I have some 1/4scale r/c models which have the aluminum tube coming out the side. I have always wondered what that was for. Now I know...It air intake for the carburetor!! Right?

[@dennism103]

Mass production those would sale like crazy!

[@LostCloudx4]

beautiful!

[@MrFrontenginedragste]

Good save!

[@HenauderTitzauf]

IM NOT PAYING ANYONE BY THE HOUR! Lol! Just kidding, looks great, sounds sometimes great. Well got to run, wife says dinner is ready. Good luck on the start.

[@Adam-zr4zk]

thats awesome guys

[@nightlightabcd]

The big guy dosn't need to go to the gym, he gets his workout turning that prop over and over! I would think it must be frustrating and exhausting for him. he has definitely earned his pay today!

[@arnoal4561]

You are a fantastic wizzard !

[@PeteBetter]

That is a REAL rotary engine.

[@thelastneanderthal3171]

That plane is more temperamental to start then a Sears Roebuck lawnmower (heh, heh)

[@darrellnesler1883]

Up till recently I'm thinking I really want to rent one of those little guys,going solo!

[@ltcajh]

How's it supposed to start if you don't say, "Contact!"

[@yourhandlehere1]

Bloody amateurs....

[@MrBook123456]

good video