Twin-stick Spits

[DarenC1]

OK, following the debacle of the Greenwood Spitfire thread, I'd like to continue the discussion of two-seater Spitfires in a separate thread.

From the previous post, I listed the surviving "original" two-seaters, plus the more recent rebuilds (marked *):

T.8
MT818

Tr.IX
MH367*
MJ627
MJ772 (modified to single-seater)
ML407
ML417 (restored to single-seat)
PT462*
PV202/IAC161
SM520*
TE308

As PeterA handily added to the list, BS410 is being rebuilt to Type 509 spec here in the UK. I'm reasonably sure there are others in the queue, such as the ex-Historic Aircraft Collection TE566 (under rebuild in Australia?).

So, does anyone have anything to add to this list?[/u]

[PeterA]

TE566 - a two place.

Is this premature?

Has the Technical School in Brisbane actually started on this?

PeterA

[DarenC1]

I added it to the list as I've seen it bandied about as a possible project over on Key....

If not, fair enough!

[PeterA]

I added it to the list as I've seen it bandied about as a possible project over on Key....

If not, fair enough!

Make and type: SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE
Model: SPITFIRE MK IX
Serial number: TE-566
Aircraft first registered in Australia: 03/12/2004….. VH-IXT
Registered under CASR Part 47
Registration holder as of 03/12/2004
AVIATION AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
PO BOX 1038
EAGLE FARM QLD 4009
Registered operator as of 03/12/2004
AVIATION AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
PO BOX 1038
EAGLE FARM QLD 4009

Well IXT suggests that is the direction

...but I don't think work has started and I am not sure that it will.

PeterA

[rossjools]

, Let's not forget the many, many twin stick Spitfires converted in the field by the Soviets during WW2. They produced many more than the 20 or so 2 seaters produced in the west after the war. I don't have any pictures to hand but they looked a lot like the La-5 UTIs and La-7 UTIs in the way the cockpits were arranged on the same level (similar to the Bf-109G-12 and Fw190-S.

It's thought that the Soviets may have converted over a hundred into this configuration if not several hundred and they were all done at front line units or aircraft depots. I'm also sure I read that the La-5 UTIs and La-7 UTIs were also all converted at front line units or aircraft depots and all these conversions, Spitfire, La-5UTI and La-7UTI were done quickly often with squadron engineering officers and NCOs doing and supervising much of the design and conversion work.

As far as I know the only 2 seat conversion trainers built on a production line in the USSR during the war were the Yak-7 trainers, although I'd be willing to stand corrected on this point if I'm wrong.

Cheers,
Ross.