Two-Seat Spit On Provenance

[Trey Carroll]

Whose Spit on the right, when you look at the main pic on Provenance's website?

http://provenancefightersales.com/index.htm

That's a pretty sweet paint scheme.

T

[Yak 11 Fan]

Rumoured to have been sold to a new owner in New Zealand.

[RMAllnutt]

Looks like "MH367" first started as a collection of parts by Dick Melton in the UK, and then finished up in Bartow, Florida. Didn't know it was for sale. Looks really cool in that paint scheme. Is that relevant to the type?

Cheers,
Richard

[Jack Cook]

Yes, the 52nd FG flew Spit Vs and IX in Africa and Italy. the markings are accurate and refreshing

[RMAllnutt]

Yes, the 52nd FG flew Spit Vs and IX in Africa and Italy. the markings are accurate and refreshing

Yes, perhaps for a Mk.IX, but what about a two seater?

Cheers,
Richard

PS. Tr.IX's were a post war invention, weren't they?

[Taylor Stevenson]

I LOVE the US scheme on spits! Are there many out there painted as such?

[Jack Cook]

but what about a two seater?

Did any 2 seat fly operationally
Were any factory built or were all modified single seaters?

[marine air]

There were not any U.S.two seaters in combat. At least the ones flown in England by the U.S were "hand me downs" from the Brits. (Mark V's, 9's and XIV's) I believe the two seaters were either late war or post war altogether for the Irish Army Air Corps, etc.
I think many were Mk. 9's etc. that were sent back to the factory and reconfigured and redesignated into the TR 9, etc. A good comparison would be like a 1950 T-6G that started life as a 1943 T-6d or a 1942 Beech SNB-5 that wound up being a 1950 RC-45J. Make sense?
The U.S. paint scheme is refreshing and looks great! Bob Hoover would love it, I bet.

[PeterA]

Yes, the 52nd FG flew Spit Vs and IX in Africa and Italy. the markings are accurate and refreshing 8)

Thank you.

PeterA

Image by Harry Stenger

[PeterA]

Just one local RAF conversion to two seat of a MK V in Italy in WWII for rapid transport/air experience. A bit draughty!

The Russians made there own two seat trainer conversion of the Mk IX in WWII.

The Vickers Types 502 and 509 were post WWII works conversions to supply a high performance trainer, principally to Air Forces re-equipping with surplus Spitfires.

PeterA

[mustangdriver]

I love it. THe Spit is just a beauty and it is cool to see different markings on one.

[Mark V]

The scheme on MH367 is based on a Mk V. No dual-control 2-seat Spitfires were used in combat

[Jack Cook]

Ah a little more detatil.
Major Robert Levin CO 4th FS 52nd FG 12th AF
Telergma, Algeria January 1943
3 kills in Spitfire MK Vb Trop

[Bill Greenwood]

Guys, which canopy do you think my Spitfire should use in the back seat? Mine is the original factory type that is higher. This Spit as well the the Grace one use the lower more streamlined rear cover. To do so, the remove some of the rear instrument panel so there is a view forward inside. It also looks like the rear rollover protection brace may be removed. Should I keep mine original or go to the more attractive streamlined style? I have not had a chance to fly one like that.

[retroaviation]

In my opinion, there is no question that the lower canopy looks better. HOWEVER, you Bill, are the owner of the airplane and it's ultimately your decision. Do YOU want to keep it original or do YOU want it to look somewhat better and be more streamlined? If it were my airplane, I don't know. I think that if there were a two seat Spit on every corner, then I'd probably change it over. But since it's as rare as it is, I'd likely leave it alone. But, that's just off the top of my head without putting a ton of thought into it...and it's just my opinion.

Gary