Warbird Information Exchange

Has that arrived in the US yet? Anyone know? I heard that it wasn't due to be completed until late August but I may have missed something on it.

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Matt

In 1982 or '83 (around Oshkosh time as I remember) a Griffon powered Spitfire landed for fuel in Yankton, South Dakota. It ended up on it's nose while doing the runup prior to leaving, and sat in a hangar at Yankton for quite some time waiting on prop and engine repairs. I saw it fly in and land but had to go back to work, and of course I had no camera. Does anyone know the identity of this airplane?

Scott

It's still firmly on the ground at DX in the care of the TFC boys.

http://friends-of-tfc.blogspot.com/

Cheers

Paul

Scott,

This would be David Price's Mk XIV NH749 returning to California from Oshkosh, July/August 1985.

I just spoke with Craig Charleston...he fixed it.

Here is a shot I took at Oshkosh that year. Note the 'N' in the RAF serial had to be deleted for FAA registration reasons.



...and another shot I took on the first post restoration flight in the UK in April 1983, unfortunately through fairly murky perspex.



PeterA

PeterA,

I wanted to guess that NH749 was the airplane, but it's been so many years I wasn't sure. The folks at the local FBO tucked it safely away in their hangar and I didn't get to see the departure after it was repaired. Thanks for filling in the blanks on an old mystery for me!

Scott

Just as a note, Bob Jens' Spitfire is not currently flown. My understanding is that it hasn't been flown in over 5 years. It is still run up occasionally, though.

It sure would be great to see it fly again, but in talking with Bob, it seems the costs of operating it have become almost too high.

-David

well,
that begs the question, if a Spitfire is too expensive to operate, what will a Mosquito be like??
double everything, and in every way more valuable.

I guess that means the Mosquito will look great parked beside the Spitfire.

However, bottom line, he owns the aircraft, and he can do as he chooses, and if he chooses to leave them static in a Hangar, and gaze upon them so be it!
There are worse views to have when opening your hangar doors.