WORK on an historic plane could be complete within the next 12 months – more than 15 years after an ambitious project was launched.

In June 2000, a sub-group of the Aviation Preservation Society of Scotland, based at the National Museum of Flight, near East Fortune, approached the curator and offered to make a flying replica of a suitable early aircraft for the museum.

Now, 16 years later, the 1915 designed Sopwith 1½ Strutter is nearing completion.

Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, recently visited the project and was welcomed by APSS members Dave Jones and John Guy, who gave him a tour of the facilities, including the project, radio and radar group and history section. They provided an overview of the project’s history and plans for its completion, which they hope will happen in the next year.

Mr Gray said: “It is a while since I have visited the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, but when I do it never fails to surprise and amaze.

“That was certainly the case when I met with the enthusiasts of the Aviation Preservation Society of Scotland, who are working there on the construction of a Sopwith Strutter biplane using the original First World War plans.

“This is no replica, but rather an actual working light plane, lovingly built by members over the past 14 years.

“It is a direct and living link to the history of East Fortune Airfield, because two squadrons of these very planes were based there during the First World War.

“Do pay them a visit in hut 32 to see for yourself. They are always happy to share their vision and it is well worth the visit.”

Mr Guy, fundraising secretary of the group, was keen to see the project literally take off, with the aim to see the plane flying.

He said: “We are grateful to the museum for allowing us to continue to use building 32 but we have now outgrown it.

“Sadly, the museum is short of space and is unable to give us the space we need at present to complete the project.

“The public have been very generous, so we have the money we need but what we desperately need is more space.

“Our dream is to be permitted to display the aircraft at the Museum of Flight as a static exhibit and at weekends take the aircraft off site to fly it in the vicinity of the museum for the benefit of the public.”

“It would be a great crowd puller for the museum and act as a living memorial to the men who fought and died defending Scotland one hundred years ago during the Great War.”