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Post by planecrazy on Jun 2, 2023 21:36:30 GMT 12
Museu Du Ar Lisbon Portugal at Sintara Air Force Base, a smaller museum, very tidy and some great displays.     Have to ask, did Mr Avro go to Mr De Havilland’s factory and borrow the plans for the fin for his 504?     So this Spitfire is ex SAAF purchased and restored to represent a Portuguese Air Force machine.  Interesting she looks like a MK V with her earlier exhausts and three bladed prop. This fooled me as she is actually a Mk IXc, ML 255.  Also only one radiator and a smaller carb air intake than a Mk IX, perhaps she is mascarading as a Mk V?  Armed up Harvard.   Nice model.  Quite a variety of under wing stores on this one.  More soon........... |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 2, 2023 21:56:28 GMT 12
Very interesting collection there. I don't think I have ever seen photos of warbirds in Portugal before.
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Post by ZacYates on Jun 2, 2023 22:15:15 GMT 12
The Spitfire V/IX is doing funny things to my brain  |
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Post by planecrazy on Jun 3, 2023 4:24:01 GMT 12
Agree Dave surprised me as well, they even operate Chipmunks as trainers, searched a bit on the net Zac and can't find much on Portuguese Spitfires?  Had a brief chat with an Air Force chap at the counter, he told me the Air Force still use Chipmunks as basic trainers, all be it with some modifications and fitted with Lycoming engines.  Nice link about the Portuguese Chipmunks. www.key.aero/article/forever-young-portuguese-chipmunks  This one is an early Marcel Jurca design.  A few larger machines, have always been intrigued and admired the JU 52, all be it from a far, nice to see one up close.   Like the exiting parachutist.  And the corrugated skin.        |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 3, 2023 8:38:37 GMT 12
I knew they flew Chippies there, there is an ex-Portuguese one on the UK circuit. The Portuguese actually built their own Chipmunks under licence.
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Post by planecrazy on Jun 4, 2023 7:19:09 GMT 12
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Post by angelsonefive on Jun 4, 2023 13:23:50 GMT 12
That is an impressive collection of aeroplanes. Thank you for posting, planecrazy.
Some information on the Spitfire :
Built as an HF IX in 4/1944, served with various RAF Sqns, went to Westlands 2/8/1945 for major inspection, embarked on the ship City of Kimberley 6/10/1948, arrived Durban for SAAF 16/11/1948.
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Post by planecrazy on Jun 6, 2023 4:59:59 GMT 12
Thanks for the detail on the Spitfire, be interested to one day find out why she is a IX mascarading as a V?
Walk around video.......
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Post by angelsonefive on Jun 6, 2023 20:00:31 GMT 12
Probably because in 1947 and 1948 Portugal imported a whole bunch of ex-RAF Mark Vb's that had been refurbished by Reid and Sigrist.
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Post by planecrazy on Jun 8, 2023 0:15:11 GMT 12
Probably because in 1947 and 1948 Portugal imported a whole bunch of ex-RAF Mark Vb's that had been refurbished by Reid and Sigrist. Interesting they got such an early model as a V in 1947/48, you would have thought they would have got later models, maybe the Mk Vs were less expensive? |
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Post by Antonio on Jun 8, 2023 0:16:21 GMT 12
Gifted I think.
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Post by angelsonefive on Jun 9, 2023 7:32:31 GMT 12
Quite possibly. Portugal is Britain's oldest ally. |
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