Spitfire Repairs

[Bill Greenwood]

A number of people have asked me about the repairs on my airplane.

Progress is being made. It took about a year, but I was finally able to secure a settlement from the insurance company. We narrowly avoided going to court. I received some money, not nearly all, of the amount of the damage estimate.

Since then, repairs have begun full time at QG Aviation, who have serviced my plane for as long as I have owned it, as well as being the shop which restored the Hurricane before the accident. Steady progress is being made, I hope. I don't have any photos, frankly it hurts me to see the plane like that, so I have only once been up one time to inspect it after it was returned from Galveston. They have opened up the wings to repair the damaged ribs, skins , and other parts, and are getting near the point of starting to reassemble them. I am looking forward to the time when that is done and it looks good again. And no, I don't have any estimate of when that will be. It will be a lot of time and a lot of money. I hope I am able get it flying again one day and I would treasure any time I had to sit in the wonderful little cockpit again. One would think 25 years would be enough, it is certainly more than most are granted, but I am not over it yet and I miss it. Most other airplanes are nice, but they are not in the same universe as for as looks, power, sound, response, history, etc. It's like trying to substitute a tofu burger for Austin Bar B Q.

Thanks for those who have been interested and supportive. Fly safe, and consider hull insurance.

[Holedigger]

Good luck with all the repairs, hope everything gets back together and she gets air back beneath her wings.

[oz rb fan]

bill
it's good to hear that the work is underway i look forward to seeing the first pics of you first flight in her.
paul

[Warbird Kid]

Good to hear Bill. Wish your bird to a steadily recovery and wind underneath her wings ASAP.

[Hal B]

Thanks for the update Bill

Hang in there, it'll get done...

[Sabremech]

Glad to hear forward progress is being made Bill.

David
WHF Maint

[tom d. friedman]

welcome back!!

[royal]

A number of people have asked me about the repairs on my airplane.

Progress is being made. It took about a year, but I was finally able to secure a settlement from the insurance company. We narrowly avoided going to court. I received some money, not nearly all, of the amount of the damage estimate.

Since then, repairs have begun full time at QG Aviation, who have serviced my plane for as long as I have owned it, as well as being the shop which restored the Hurricane before the accident. Steady progress is being made, I hope. I don't have any photos, frankly it hurts me to see the plane like that, so I have only once been up one time to inspect it after it was returned from Galveston. They have opened up the wings to repair the damaged ribs, skins , and other parts, and are getting near the point of starting to reassemble them. I am looking forward to the time when that is done and it looks good again. And no, I don't have any estimate of when that will be. It will be a lot of time and a lot of money. I hope I am able get it flying again one day and I would treasure any time I had to sit in the wonderful little cockpit again. One would think 25 years would be enough, it is certainly more than most are granted, but I am not over it yet and I miss it. Most other airplanes are nice, but they are not in the same universe as for as looks, power, sound, response, history, etc. It's like trying to substitute a tofu burger for Austin Bar B Q.

Thanks for those who have been interested and supportive. Fly safe, and consider hull insurance.

Bill.
I dont know if you remember me,i flew from england to fly in your plane
in september 2007 ,in boulder,and you met me in the hotel,and my son was there.
We went for a meal afterwards.
I am so glad that the repairs are underway,and can completly understand how you feel about the spit regarding its past,looks,response
etc,there is no other plane to compare with it IMHO.
When i flew in it with you,it took me back to the 1940s,as i was 5 yrs old then,and remember seeing the dogfights with spits,and it was a dream come true to fly in one with you.
I do hope for yoursake that you do get in that cockpit again,and fly that wonderful machine,which means so much to many millions of people around the world.
It was just an unfortunate accident which happens in life,but im glad to see both pilots survived,and that you still have the willpower to get on with flying the spit again,it would be such a big loss to you,and other
people.
Goodluck with it.
Malcolm.

[Bill Greenwood]

Yes, Malcolm, I certainly do remember you. Hey , I can remember everything about the past, it's today that gets a little fuzzy. Did I eat breakfast yet, or did I just imagine it? Seriously it is a pleasure to share the plane with someone who is English and appreciates it's history.

Take care. Bill

[DenverWarbirdFan]

Hey Bill!

Great to see you on WIX again. And great to hear that she's coming closer to being back in the air. I hope to see her in person one of these days.

Hope all's well. Hopefully I can catch you at Journey's again sometime soon.

-Scott

[Pogo]

welcome back!!

No better way to say what he said!

Thanks for the report, Bill, and I hope you'll keep 'em coming. I was on hand the last couple days she flew, threw chocks under her wheels once or twice, so feel a bit of a connection to your baby.

At one point you practically insisted that I climb in the cockpit and try her on for size, even though I tried to get out of it .... didn't want to be a bother. I've been delighted and grateful ever since, learned a whole bunch of stuff about Spits I never knew before. So thanks again for taking time to share your toys, amigo. You can bet there are some extra fingers crossed for your eventual return to said cockpit.

[TAdan]

Glad to hear progress is being made Bill, I hope you can get back to flying your Spit soon.

[75rat]

Hi Bill,

Glad to hear that things are progressing on your Spitfire. I sure miss seeing it fly. Do you plan on retaining the current paint scheme?

Also, do you remember giving my son Tom a Spitfire ride at Oshkosh a couple of years ago? Thought you might like to know that he reported for duty at Laughlin AFB Monday to start pilot training.

Hope to see you and your Spitfire in the air soon.

Jim

[Mark V]

Seriously it is a pleasure to share the plane with someone who is English and appreciates it's history.

I too remember our flight together out of Oshkosh Bill, what, four years ago now? You have been generous in sharing the experience of flying this iconic aeroplane with many people (including a few English people such as myself) and your generosity was much appreciated. I was so pleased to hear that the repairs are underway - she is waiting for you

[hairycow]

Bill,

I dont often post, but do read daily and wanted to say that I am glad to hear you are proceeding on repairs. I want to volunteer my services to you as a profesional aircraft painter, with a lot of warbird refinishing and restoration under my belt and wish to help in any way possible with your spit. I am based in Conifer Colorado, and can be reached at raafa230867@yahoo.com

Sincerely,

Bruce