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Post by colford on Feb 8, 2018 8:30:45 GMT 12
Announced on their Facebook page, the addition of Spitfire XVI TE392 to the Fighter Pilot Adventure Flights Australia collection.
QUOTE: "The team at FP are excited to announce that next week our Mk. XVI Spitfire arrives. After a 10 year restoration project Performance Aero will be putting the finishing touches and reassembling her, it is expected that TE392 will be gracing the Australian skies by August of this year. As we make progress we hope to keep everyone updated."
www.facebook.com/fighterpilotau/photos/a.1021789637855024.1073741830.1016531665047488/1826010964099550/?type=3&theater
Hopefully that link will work. Already questions if it will be kept in its current scheme or have its markings changed to repesent one of the late mark Spitfires flown with an Australian Squadron or an Australian pilot flying with an RAF Squadron.
Could bode well for the number of Spitfires appearring at Warbirds Down Under this year.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 8, 2018 9:37:07 GMT 12
Aussie will soon have five flying Spitfires.
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Post by Mustang51 on Feb 8, 2018 9:38:50 GMT 12
Lets see, the Temora Mk.VIII and Mk.XVI, The FPAF Mk.XVI and the two Scone Mk.IXs............... nice...........get your tickets early.........and your accommodation !
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Post by colford on Feb 8, 2018 9:57:41 GMT 12
FPAF in response to questions about flights in their new Spitfire have indicated that it will remain a single seater, but that they are in the process of trying to acquire a Spitfire TR.9 so they can provide Spitfire flights for those who are interested and have the money. Maybe make that SIX!!
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Post by colford on Feb 2, 2019 12:45:11 GMT 12
Fighter Pilots Adventure Flights Australia based at Archerfield have provided an update on their FB page on Spitfire TE392 and the commencement of "Fly With A Spitfire" style adventure/experience flights starting from July 2019. Many of you have been asking about our Spitfire TE-392. We are keeping it under wraps for a little longer as we prepare for her maiden-flight in the coming months. We are please to now be able to offer Australia's only "Fly with a Spitfire" experience, available mid year, first Saturday of each month. Details at: spitfireflights.com.aufighterpilot.com.au/spitfire-wwiiSounds like they are making good progress with this Spitfire, will be interesting to see what scheme it ultimately carries when it is officially unveiled. |
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Post by colford on May 24, 2019 13:55:09 GMT 12
Looks like they missed out on securing the Spitfire TR.9 they were interested in purchasing with the news that TE308 which had been in the USA for a number of years has been sold to the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar in the UK and will join their other three Spitfire two seaters - MJ772, MJ627 and MT818. Looks like Plan 'B' will now come into play, which is to find a restoration project for a Spitfire IX that can be rebuilt as a two seater in TR.9 configuration. There was a bit of chatter going around at WOI 2019 that Pays at Scone might be engaged for that particular project. So might be a few more years before Spitfire flights are available in Australia.
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Post by colford on Sept 29, 2019 22:08:43 GMT 12
Fighter Pilot Adventure Flights have provided via their FB page today an update on TE392.
QUOTE: TE392 Mk XVI Soon to become Australia's 3rd flying Spitfire
The Fighter Pilot Collection, after nearly 2 years is excited to share that we will be starting ground runs on our Mk. XVI Spitfire this week!
Ordered as part of the 17th order placed with Castle Bromwich for a batch of 1,884 Mk IX aircraft dated April 1943, TE392 was given cockpit C/N CBAF IX 4551. Fitted with an American Packard Merlin 266 and was designated as a Mk XVIe. The aircraft was delivered one month after VE day, to No 9 M.U. Cosford in June of 1945.
TE392 went on to serve with several Fighter and Army Co-operation squadrons until 1952. The aircraft became a ground instructional unit, displayed publicly at RAF Gaydon, Battle of Britain days on several occasions. Many remaining Spitfires found allocated to ‘Gate Guardian’ duty. TE392 eventually gracing the gate at RAF Credenhill, Hereford
Removed as a Gate Guardian in August of 1984, TE392 was acquired by notable Spitfire collector Doug Arnold, with restoration commencing in mid-1989. At this point the decision was made to convert the fuselage from its low-back configuration to a high-back configuration. The fuselage structure was dismantled, and new quarter frame repairs were used to change it back to the original high-back Spitfire profile, as per the ‘Unit Users Repair Manual for Accident and Battle Damage’.
Following the passing of Doug Arnold in 1992, TE392 was sold and shipped to Florida in the United States. Return-to-flight restorations continued under the guidance of Harry Stenger.
First engine runs were carried out August 1999 with the test flight being conducted Christmas Eve 1999. TE392 had, at this point, been gifted to the Lone Star Museum in Galveston, Texas, where it became a regular flying exhibit. *(ref Spitfire Survivors)
September 2008 saw the Galveston and surrounding areas devastated by Hurricane Ike, and sadly the Museum suffered significant damage to its buildings and exhibits. Most aircraft were flown out, however TE392 couldn’t as engine works were being carried out at the time. As a result, the aircraft was partly immersed in flood waters. Immediately after the water had recessed, TE392 was shipped to Ezell Aviation, in the North of Texas, where the aircraft was immediately dismantled, washed, inhibited and then stored in preparation for reassembly.
Nine years had come and gone with the aircraft still in storage before the opportunity for the Fighter Pilot group to purchase TE392 came about. Working with Platinum Fighter Sales, a purchase from the Lone Star Museum in its disassembled state was completed in early December 2017. Later that same month, the aircraft began it journey to Australia, arriving in February 2018 at Performance Aero in Brisbane Australia.
Under the oversight of Cameron Rolph-Smith, an overhaul of the aircraft component-by-component began. The process required a complete disassembly of the wings and replacement of the wing spars. Removal of many of the skins on the fuselage was also undertaken to assess any potential longeron, frame and skin corrosion from the immersion ten years earlier. In addition, all non-standard US hardware and components were removed from the airframe and replaced with original British specification hardware. During the 18-month period since restoration commenced, over fifteen thousand man-hours have been invested in the restoration process.
The livery chosen for the aircraft is proudly that of a Mk IX “DV*A” flown by Frederick Anthony Owen "Tony" Gaze, (DFC & Two Bars, OAM) - one of the great Australian WWII aces. DV*A was piloted by Tony whilst flying with 129 Squadron RAF. During the war, Tony Gaze was attributed with 12.5 confirmed victories and flew as a wingman to the legendary Douglas Bader. Also unbeknownst to many, Tony Gaze “post-war” was instrumental in the formation of the Goodwood racing circuit after persuading Freddie March, Ninth Duke of Richmond, to convert the airfield perimeter service road around RAF Westhampnett into a race circuit. Opened in September 1948, Britain’s first post-war motor race at a permanent venue was held. Later, a civilian airfield was also opened on the site, which continues to operate to this day.
Tony Gaze would also go on to become Australia’s first Formula 1 driver. His love of aviation continued with him going on to represent Australia in the world gliding championships.
A special acknowledgement is given to the team at Performance Aero - Cameron, Bec, Myke, Margaret, Greg and the three Johns to say what a great job you have done to get TE392 to this point.
It is planned that engine runs will be undertaken this week, with a test flight to be planned soon.
*Spitfire Survivors - Then and Now
By Gordon Riley , Peter Arnold , and Graham Trant
*Almost Unknown
The Story of Squadron Leader Tony Gaze OAM DFC***, Australian Spitfire Ace and Racing Driver
By Stewart Wilson
(FB post also includes a number of photos of the aircraft in its new c&m scheme)
END QUOTE
I for one am very happy with the choice of scheme and markings to be carried by this Spitfire, representing an Australian with achievements in both war and peace. Also happens that he was attached for a short while in 1943 to the RAF Squadron that I am the Historian for, where he flew their Allison engined Mustang Mk.IA and a car-door Hawker Typhoon they had on strength at the time. But that as they say, is another story.
THREE!!
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Post by Mustang51 on Oct 1, 2019 7:49:47 GMT 12
Make that possibly six............
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Post by colford on Oct 1, 2019 10:40:40 GMT 12
RN201?
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Post by Calum on Oct 1, 2019 15:01:51 GMT 12
Hoping to get to the flying weekend in October with my son
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Post by Mustang51 on Oct 2, 2019 18:24:43 GMT 12
and MV154?
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Post by colford on Oct 2, 2019 22:04:23 GMT 12
MV154, that would be an interesting one to see return home to Australia. Given its recent "ooopppss" moment at the September BoB Airshow at Duxford, has the owner decided it's time to sell? And of course, not forgetting the longer term plans of Pays at Scone with BS548 - that one has gone a bit quiet the past 12 months or so. 2020 and 2021 could be bumper years for Warbird fans in Australia.
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Post by planecrazy on Oct 4, 2019 9:45:20 GMT 12
MV154, that would be an interesting one to see return home to Australia. Given its recent "ooopppss" moment at the September BoB Airshow at Duxford, has the owner decided it's time to sell? And of course, not forgetting the longer term plans of Pays at Scone with BS548 - that one has gone a bit quiet the past 12 months or so. 2020 and 2021 could be bumper years for Warbird fans in Australia. Found a pic of the ooopppss moment, check out the full up elevator! www.key.aero/sites/default/files/comment_forum/2019/09/26/70879474_10156828720098214_6952982045639311360_n.jpg |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Oct 4, 2019 17:18:56 GMT 12
A near repeat of the MKXIV takeoff accident?
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Post by colford on Oct 24, 2019 22:42:38 GMT 12
Latest on MV154 is that it is currently listed as pending return to UK Register.
G-BKMI (MV154 / 'MT928') ex D-FEUR
So its on the move, but maybe not down under.
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Post by Mustang51 on Oct 27, 2019 9:03:43 GMT 12
Maybe one day its full "true" story shall be told in the UK.....but I am thinking not.....
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Post by baz62 on Oct 29, 2019 13:06:49 GMT 12
Maybe one day its full "true" story shall be told in the UK.....but I am thinking not..... Sounds like an interesting saga with this Spit then...... |
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Post by Mustang51 on Oct 29, 2019 13:36:56 GMT 12
baz62.............ahhhh Grasshopper, it is very long and interesting from one who was directly involved with the AFP and Australian Customs and Excise......perhaps on a cold winter night in the South Island over red wine and cheese in front of an open fire......
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Post by baz62 on Oct 29, 2019 14:51:25 GMT 12
red wine and cheese in front of an open fire...... You had me at Red wine my friend! |
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Post by Mustang51 on Oct 30, 2019 9:25:02 GMT 12
Ian Flemming could not have made up what really happened.
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