The Bristol M1c, the Sopwith 1½ Strutter and the Sopwith Pup are due to go on display within the museum’s War Planes Hangar in December 2014.

The Sopwith Pup is an original aircraft which was active during the First World War. The Pup, thought of by its pilots as the perfect flying machine, was used extensively by the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps both at home and abroad. The Bristol M1c and Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter are full scale reproductions.
 
The aircraft were transported from the RAF Museum London, along the M1, M6 and M54 motorways by two low loader lorries. Delighted members of the public and museum staff welcomed the aircraft arrivals late afternoon, before they were placed inside the museum’s Conservation Centre. The Sopwith Pup will undergo some minor fabric repair work to the tail before going on public display later this year.
 
The three aircraft are to be exhibited as part of the museum’s First World War Exhibition, opening in December 2014, which will allow museum audiences to discover and explore the unique and often overlooked role of air power during the First World War through the incredible stories of the men and women who took part. The exhibition ‘First World War In The Air’, was made possible with a grant of £898,558 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Alex Medurst, RAF Museum Cosford General Manager, said: “These three iconic aircraft will provide a dramatic focus for our upcoming First World War exhibition. The Museum at Cosford looks forward to sharing them with its visitors and marking the historic anniversary.”

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