Life with a Replica Sopwith Pup

[Douglas7]

I've been gone due to some intermittent business and computer problems.
Glad to see the Pup working out, like the Rotec Radial?
good work..

[RAF56_Ball]

Originally Posted by Douglas7

I've been gone due to some intermittent business and computer problems.
Glad to see the Pup working out, like the Rotec Radial?
good work..

I am very pleased with the Rotec, and the "Oh, WOW!" factor is huge

[RAF56_Ball]

Originally Posted by snj5

Great to hear the trim issue resolved!
Any photos of the new windscreen and Vickers? ...
We need to do some movies like Thierry's N28 test flying shots.
Well done, old chap!

I really do need to bring out Judy's camera, then carry my cell, like Harv does, heheheh.

[RAF56_Ball]

Does anyone know what the trigger for the Pup looked like? I saw a picture of a Strutter that had a curved lever mounted to the top of the stick below the cloche/spade-handle grip. Would that be authentic in the Scout/Pup?

[RAF56_Ball]

Forgive me for hijacking my own thread.

This was posted on the Music, Song and Poetry thread by jos, but I feel it deserves a wider recognition, so am adding it here as well. Many of us have heard of and read this poem, but I was moved by it when heard it put to song.
The waterboys an irish airman forsees his death - YouTube

[RAF56_Ball]

I know there is not much interest in this thread (building IS much cooler). But I know that bad news travels fast, so wanted to allay any fears.
I just wanted to report that N6184 and I are fine and doing well after ditching into Lake Wausau. I was having a fuel transfer problem, engine quit while turning base over the lake and I couldn't get enough fuel forward to keep it running or restart, or clear the trees (60 footers that sit on an airfield that is 30 feet above the water), so I settled her into the water just off shore.
Fortunately it flies so slowly that it touched at less than 35 kts, and with some slowing by the wheels before it dug in, impact was low, more like a tip over from what I can tell, and into shallow water as it turns out. I landed just past a 20' deep channel that I did not know was even there, onto a sand bar that was ~6 feet below the surface. (My story is that I saw a a big musky and tried an Alaska trick to try land and catch it).
Thank you Jesus, no injuries, and I was dry until I had to transfer to a bass boat. Current was starting to push the tail up and was concerned it was going turtle, so they had me grab the boat and let them pull me away a few feet before they pulled me in.

As they were taking me to shore (it "just so happens" Wausau Downtown has the remainders of a seaplane landing) I got to talk with EMS, the Sherriff, the fire department, (their divers checked the plane for leaks and put out buoys to protect it and the boaters), and, once on land I got to talk with the FAA, who had already talked to NTSB. THEN the Wisconsin DNR needed to be notified (they have responsibility for the water ways.

There is minimal sheet metal damage to the cowling from the splash into the water, the gear, fuselage, wings and tail feathers are undamaged, covering is intact, and no fuel or oil spilled, so I am not in "dutch" with the DNR.
A good friend came up with the idea of contacting Dock Masters owned by a young man that puts in and takes out boat lifts and the like). He was able to bring his rig to Lake Wausau, and it only took 2 hours to get the Pup to shore, from the time we launched. Really good guys, and good workers.
Go to my builder page Airdrome Airplanes & Supwith Pup Aviation Replica Sopwith Scout and see the menu link “Pup Rescue” for a few of the pictures Casey Jones took. Here are a couple to “wet” your appetite.

[Cajun]

: thats terrible. But you are alive and ok and thats what matters. Pick up the pieces and put them together again!!!!!

[wingandprop]

Originally Posted by wingandprop

I enjoy reading your posts, especially about your Pup. When it gets warm I am looking forward to seeing if you can repeat your feat of landing and taking off from the same place more than three times running.

Originally Posted by RAF56_Ball

Hey, whadda ya mean three times in a row?!?!? <G>

And I suppose the story this time is that you just wanted to give her a wash, but the wings were too wide for the local car wash? Its one thing for the local FAA and NTSB types know you personally, but you really don't want them to be so familiar that they keep your name on their rolodex.

Needless to say I am very glad that the Pup is alright...oh, and you too of course! (Truly!)

[Dart]

Great to hear you were spared any injury!

Good that the damage to the plane is repairable as well.

Perhaps changing the rudder to say Kingston on Wausau?

[John McKenzie]

Hi Chip ..Bloody shame ,.... but glad to hear that You are fine & that there's not too much damage to the Pup

John M