Brendon Deere's Spitfire PV270 nearly complete

[Dave Homewood]

Have you guys been following the thread on my NZ forum about Brendon Deere's beautiful Spitfire restoration? It is currently at RNZAF Base Ohakea getting final attention before making a return to the air. Brendon has been sending us regular photo updates, and today's sees it outdoors with fuel in its tanks for the first time since 1956!

See here (page 3) for latest photos
http://rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi? ... 445&page=3

[Dan K]

Excellent news. Appreciate the updates.

[jet1]

...I can't imagine how hard it would be to restore one of those down under...its hard enough in the land o plenty!

[richkolasa]

Beautiful! Best of luck on the completion.

It's nice that so many foreign warbirds are restored in proper markings. Nice tribute to the people who fought and died fighting the war. Too many "look at my toy" warbirds in America, with the owners ego-driven initials and home-depot colors on them, IMHO.

Rich

[DaveM2]

...I can't imagine how hard it would be to restore one of those down under...its hard enough in the land o plenty!

A lot of 'foreign' owners get their work done in NZ & Oz particularly P-40s ( Yagen, Potter, Provence Fighters etc.). They have the skills and the tools and the work is excellent ( several awards at Osh).
Having said that most are done in larger 'shops'. Brendon's Spit is more of a singular restoration..... a 'garden shed' style if you will

Dave

[Dave Homewood]

For those not aware, the colour scheme on Brendon's machine represents his uncle's Spitfire. His uncle was the legenedary ace Al Deere, of Battle of Britain and 'Nine Lives' fame. What a fantastic family tribute

And yes there are some very skilled people in New Zealand restoring Spitfires. AvSpecs recently restored the Mk V 'Marion' now on the US warbird circuit, and is regarded as one of the best Spitfire restorations ever.

Taking into account the likes of the Subritzky family who part-restored a Mk V (now owned by Tom Blair), and a Mk XXI now in China, the team at SAFE Air who restored TB863 twice after two accidents, the team at Wanaka that looked after the two Spitfires there, and the AvSpecs team who're working on several Spitfire projects, outside of the UK I don't think there would be any country more experienced in restoring Spitfires to flight. Most US Spitfires seem to be restored outside the USA aren't they? I may be wrong.

[DarenC1]

Most US Spitfires seem to be restored outside the USA aren't they? I may be wrong.

RN201
SM969
JG891
BL628
ML417
SM832
AR614
NH904

Off the top of my head...

[Dave Homewood]

At first I thought Daren's post was saying I was wrong and pointing out Spitfires that were indeed restored in the USA, but then I began to look at the numbers. Indeed they are all ones restored outside the USA. So I think that must prove that NZ is the second most prolific restorer of Spitfires in the world on a country by country basis.

Last edited by Dave Homewood on Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark V]

Fair enough, I admitted I wasn't sure of that. NZ must be the third-most busy country for Spitfire restorations though, surely.

Dave, he is agreeing with you! All the listed Spitfires are currently US based but not restored there.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Steve, I amended my post. The rolling eyes smiley confused me!

[DarenC1]

Sorry, Dave, my bad. I guess I should have clarified that!

[Mike]

On the other hand, Dave, of those you've listed, only BL628 has been a true restoration to flight, the others being partial restorations or accident repairs. And even for that one, most of the structural work was done either in Australia or the UK. However, hopefully there will be a few more to come from NZ in the not too distant future.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, that is true Mike. You'd be surprised how much structural work was redone in NZ on BL628 apparently. Another full restoration to flight will be seen in the next few weeks with PV270 getting airborne any day now. And it's good to know it's staying in NZ and not going offshore like most being or having been repaired here.

I think when the day comes that Sir Tim's old Mk XIV gets airborne again it will be more than just a repair. It was pretty poked and will be a full restoration from bits really.