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By: - 21st December 2008 at 21:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Good stuff - I saw it at the end of its last flight, from Biggin to Bournemouth.
Together with a small team, I then dismantled it before it spent ten years in a container.
A couple of years ago, it spent 18 months under my office window - this is a much better home for the beast!
Bruce
By: - 21st December 2008 at 21:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Further update, it's just landed safely and is now tucked up in the hangar.:)
By: - 21st December 2008 at 22:00 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Great news!
Thanks Roobarb for the info.
BG
By: - 21st December 2008 at 22:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Great news. Congrats to the TFC team for a job well done!
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 09:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Fantastic news. Congratulations to all involved.
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 10:06 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Photos here
http://friends-of-tfc.blogspot.com/
"Let it snow let it snow let it snow"
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 12:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Excellent news. Does that mean work on the Mk22 will commence soon?
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 12:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Very very nice.
Mark
Images via Jim Beasley
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 13:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Shame we didn't see more of her here but...
better "in the air over there" than in a crate or pile of parts etc...
anyway - I bought my own - not sure that prop is quite right but not many late marque Spitfires around compared with Merlin versions...
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 14:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Potted history of SM969.
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregistry/spitfire-sm969.html
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 16:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It is a source of wonder to me (and i would imagine the guys at TFC) that an aircraft which cannot be flown in it's land of construction with all the backup one might need, can suddenly become airworthy 4000 miles from home! Anyway great to see it fly. The last time I saw it fly was at the "Reno-style" air race at Cranfield in the 80s. Happy Days.
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 18:27 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
It is a source of wonder to me (and i would imagine the guys at TFC) that an aircraft which cannot be flown in it's land of construction with all the backup one might need, can suddenly become airworthy 4000 miles from home!
I understand that within the UK there was concern in some quarters that the Pegasus horse artwork had been fed oats of an unknown traceability and there was some notable visible mutation showing a change from the original design specification and that this had caused anxiety and nausia amongst viewing enthusiasts and that flight line walkers had been observed to depart from controlled directional path on observing it at Legends '08 :dev2:
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 18:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I understand that within the UK there was concern in some quarters that the Pegasus horse artwork had been fed oats of an unknown traceability and there was some notable visible mutation showing a change from the original design specification and that this had caused anxiety and nausia amongst viewing enthusiasts and that flight line walkers had been observed to depart from controlled directional path on observing it at Legends '08 :dev2:
Rest assured, the artwork in question is on on borrowed time and is going to be repainted in the new year.
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 18:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There's something about the XVIII that makes it look so.... right in those photos. Certainly my favourite of the late-mark Griffon Spits (after the 24).
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 21:25 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
There's something about the XVIII that makes it look so.... right in those photos. Certainly my favourite of the late-mark Griffon Spits (after the 24).
Daz - follow my link above, the site there is in the USA but they do decent views of the model, you can pick up one these lovelies easily in the UK.
Go on, treat yourself for xmas..... you know you want to....
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 21:46 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Rest assured, the artwork in question is on on borrowed time and is going to be repainted in the new year.
Repainted? I thought it had been done in crayons...:D
By: - 22nd December 2008 at 23:27 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Daz - follow my link above, the site there is in the USA but they do decent views of the model, you can pick up one these lovelies easily in the UK.Go on, treat yourself for xmas..... you know you want to....
Bloody hell, that is nice....
I'm tempted! :p
By: - 23rd December 2008 at 05:32 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Nice one BWB....Great to see her flying.
Are you coming home for Christmas now?:D
By: - 23rd December 2008 at 09:18 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Bloody hell, that is nice....I'm tempted! :p
They also do a MK-XIV which I don't like so much (Merlin Spits "should" be high backed, Griffon engined "low" backed IMHO) but top quality, seen them in the local "Model Zone" ... its Xmas, treat yourself.....
By: - 23rd December 2008 at 23:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Posts: 1,177
By: Roobarb - 21st December 2008 at 21:10
Just had a TXT from BWB to say that at 4pm (US time) today Jim Beasley test flew his Spitfire SM969 at Chester County Airport. This is of course the ex-TFC, ex-WoGB airframe overhauled at Duxford over the last two years by a team including BWB himself. Big congratulations to all involved and great to hear that this little flown or seen Spitfire will get some regular air under its wings after a previous "restored career " of only 8 hrs with the Arnolds.:)
Roobarb