Pure Luck

Sir Thomas Sopwith’s 101-year life spanned aviation history. A contemporary of the Wright brothers, he went on to become a highly successful airplane manufacturer in his own his Camel and Pup revolutionized aerial combat in World War I. His Hurricane and Lancaster were among the most successful designs of World War II and the remarkable Harrier "jump jet" emerged from an industrial empire that included over time, Sopwith Aviation, Hawker Siddeley, and AV Roe, an empire that employed up to 127,000 people. But Thomas Sopwith was more than a remarkable aviation pioneer and industrialist, he was a sportsman in the old tradition and one of the world’s leading 12-meter-class yachtsmen. Pure Luck traces the remarkable history of Sopwith, narrates the moments of triumph and tragedy during his early life and describes the events leading to his 80-year involvement in aeronautics – ballooning, early days at Brooklands, and the founding of Sopwith Aviation. His wisdom and record of achievement are recorded as Pure Luck reveals Tommy Sopwith’s private and business life and places his astonishing career in perspective. With justification, Sir Thomas Sopwith can be classed among the most influential non-political figures this century.