Warbird Information Exchange

Although the Dick Melton built two seat Spitfire structure was initiated in the the UK it was not completed before being sold on to the US.

The sheet metal and fitting out was completed by Harry Stenger in Bartow Florida and to this end a further Spitfire front fuselage and firewall was acquired from the UK, complete with RAF ID and dataplate. Where practical some of the MH367 structure was incorporated to continue a 'thin but robust' provenance ID trail.

Not just a 'data plate special' as some have hinted.

PeterA

I can't speak for a mock up of a Spitfire, it does look fun, but in my two seat factory original one there is plenty of leg room. It has been flown comfortably by Howard Pardue who is about 6' 2", not counting cigar. Your legs extend under the upper 48 gal(imp) fuel tank which is retained. The lower, smaller 37 gal one is deleted. Four small wing tanks are added so total fuel is 110 gal US. I assume 108 usable for range estimates. There is not a lot of extra room width wise in the two seat front cockpit, but leg room is not a problem for any normal size pilot. The front seat has 5 notches of vertical adjustment so head room is not much of a problem either.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Something does not look the same in that mock up as in my actual plane. For instance that bracing bar is right against the ladies legs. In my plane that bar is several inches in front of my knees. I never hit my knee on that bar whether in flight or getting in or out, although I have gotten a bruise on my upper arm from a switch on the side of the cockpit.
In looking at that photo again I can see that the brace in the mock up is not the same as it is in my airplane. The mock up has the brace straight across, but in the factory plane that brace is angled, giving much more room.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Size matters Bill.

Your front cockpit is 13 inches further forward than this stock Mk IX fuselage with a passenger mockup in the main fuel bay.

PeterA

Sorry for the very late response on this: Only as much as any major restoration is - it was actually constructed around a substantial assembly of original factory 2-seat conversion componentsIt was indeed constructed by Dick Melton and his team but was not commenced until 1991. It was never under the ownership of Mr Church or his estate. Cant argue with that point - anyway the latest news is its now arrived safely in New Zealand!

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