Chinese Spitfire??

F3V · **Posted:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 2:39 pm

there is one or two Tu 4/B29?

Versatile · **Joined:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:35 pm **Posts:** 636

Holedigger wrote:

That serial didn't look right.it was what was listed...not sure what IT is, so perhaps TE330
TE330, a LF Mk XVIe owned by the Subritzky family of the North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand was sold for NZD$2.8 million in September 2008. [87] TE330 was built at Castle Bromwich in late April 1945 and in 1957 joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. It was sold to the Smithsonian Institution in September 1959[g], and was put on display in the USAF museum at Dayton, Ohio in 1961. In 1996 the aircraft was bought by a Hong Kong based businessman, James Slade, who shipped it to Don Subritzky for restoration work in 1997. In 1999 TE330 was sold to the Subritzky family.[88] The airworthy aircraft was bought at the auction in New Zealand by Hong Kong businessman Yan-Ming Gao who intends to donate it to the China Aviation Museum in Beijing.[87]

How can a person buy an AC from the Smithsonian? Has anyone else done this? Let alone a foreigner. Shouldn't a person from the USA get first dibs?

AirJimL2 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:05 pm

The Spit was sold (or traded) by the USAF Museum. The aircraft was not owned by the Smithsonian, no matter what the quoted text says. I don't remember the exact details but it was either given to the USAF or the USAF Academy by the RAF. It was deemed surplus of needs by the Museum when they got the Spitfire Vc.

Jim

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

F3V wrote:

there is one or two Tu 4/B29?

Two, both converted to turboprop engines.

PeterA · **Posted:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:44 pm

...and to think TE330 was presented/gifted to the USAF in flying trim at a ceremony in the UK back in July 1958, depleting the embryonic Battle of Britain Memorial flight by one, in the process.

PeterA

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:32 pm

You never know when an aircraft will suddenly move again. But remember, most of these planes will outlive ourselves so Im sure she will be put in the right hands one day.

What if China started flying Warbirds?

Ethan · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:46 am

is this the same museum with the P-61 and P-47?

A2C · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:50 am

I'm surprised the USAF museum didn't put it up for sale, like they've done with other aircraft.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Ethan wrote:

is this the same museum with the P-61 and P-47?

No. That museum is at an engineering school and is temporarily closed. See the next Classic Wings possibly for more information. :wink:

chico · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 1:52 pm

rreis wrote:

F3V wrote:

yes, very strange idea for a Chinese citizen to buy a plane who never served in Chinese Air Force or Chinese sky... :shock:

Why? A pretty girl is a pretty girl, independent of the dress

I find pretty girls to be even prettier when they are "independent" of the dress....

(bah dum bum ching.....thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week. Be sure to tip your waitress....)

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Chinese Spitfire??

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