'Saturday 24th July is the day for the much anticipated 1920 Aerial Derby and over 10,000 people turn up at Hendon to see the latest machines compete over two laps of the course, a total of 200 miles. Just in time for the race Handley Page Ltd have recorded three more surplus Boulton & Paul built Sopwith 'Snipe', J453, J455, J459, on the civil register as G-EAUV, G-EAUW and G-EAUU.' Only G-EAUW finished, Capt William Jordan taking fifth place. Jimmy James was third in his Nieuport Nieuhawk G-EAJY / 10, chequered in yellow and blue. This was a modified Nighthawk. Photo from: Hagley Museum and Library

The Snipe entered Squadron service shortly before the end of WWI and the type remained in service until 1926. This superb though non-airworthy replica has recently arrived in the UK from New Zealand. It is destined for the RAF Museum but is on short-term loan to the Shuttleworth Collection.

Registered in March 2013

The Snipe was introduced just before the end of WWI as a successor to the Sopwith Camel the and proved to be a very effective fighter that remained in RAF service until 1926. This replica was built in New Zealand using an original engine and many original parts and is painted in the colours of FO Dermot Boyle who served with No.1 Sqdn in Iraq in 1926. He later went on to become founding Chairman of the Trustees for the RAF Museum.

Previously ZK-SBT, a superb replica by Vintage Aviator