avenger2504 wrote:
Firebird said: "Yup, and it's this remarkable (not to say immensely expensive
) part of this restoration that perhaps sets it apart as much as anything else, and thus making this a unique example of the worlds airworthy Spitfires.
The engineering from scratch of a complete DH metal blade prop assembly for P9374, as per it had at the time of it's loss
In fact 8 sets have been manufactured from what I've read.
Wow that is impressive although being in engineering and working in a CNC milling machine one at that it is easier now to make parts and less expensive. That's relative though i know I couldn't afford to do it no matter how easy it would be to machine on a CNC. Its the getting to that point (and I would hate to think of the paper work!!) and laying the groundwork that would be a huge undertaking.
I take my hats off to them, making a Mark 1 anything cannot be easy!
I also note she has got the add on armoured windscreen which was retrofitted to the early Spits before the factory made the new one with the built in type.
Look likes she was leaking a bit of glycol going by the green stain on her belly. probably things settling in like seals etc?
The thing about anything done in the UK is that it goes so far above just making the parts.
As much as someone can program a CNC machine and punch out parts that isn't the remarkable achievement.
Getting the CAA to approve your desire to make the parts, approve the engineering, approve someone to make the parts, approve the QC, incorporate it into a AAN document, grant you a TBO and then let you fly that part is the amazing feat.
The 6-9 months of engineering probably took another 18 months of paperwork and approvals.
I have been exposed to a small window of the way Warbird Flying is done in the UK and it really takes a very dedicated owner and crew to do what may seem fairly easy in other parts of the world.
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