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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 22, 2006 12:49:53 GMT 12
Has the Spitfire TB863 flown yet in Australia?
It was meant to debut weeks ago but I've heard nothing from our Aussie contingent...
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Post by corsair67 on Aug 22, 2006 14:25:26 GMT 12
Dave, she's due to debut at the Flying Weekend on September 16th and 17th.
I posted a photo of TB863 for you in my selection of snaps from the 6th August, and at that stage she was still packed up.
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Post by amitch on Aug 22, 2006 14:31:19 GMT 12
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Aren't you meant to have posted that back by now!!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 22, 2006 14:32:12 GMT 12
Ah that's right, I did see that. But I was wondering about test flights rather than public displays. Is the restoration going ok?
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Post by corsair67 on Aug 22, 2006 15:00:08 GMT 12
Test flying? Nah, just kick the tyres and light the fires on the morning of the 16th September! ;D I haven't heard anymore about progress on the Spit, Dave. I assume that once the August flying weekend was out of the way it'd be all hands on deck to get TB863 up and running. I guess the paperwork is more time consuming than the task of actually putting her back together? Alex, I did try to send her back, but Australia Post rejected the parcel because it had too many sharp edges! ;D  |
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Post by amitch on Aug 22, 2006 16:18:34 GMT 12
Alex, I did try to send her back, but Australia Post rejected the parcel because it had too many sharp edges! ;D No excuse. The post office will just knock the corners off as part of their service!! |
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Post by planeimages on Aug 22, 2006 19:01:15 GMT 12
Definitely going to Temora Friday 15 and staying for Saturday.
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Post by corsair67 on Aug 23, 2006 11:18:19 GMT 12
Yes, I'd love to go for a look too, but probably won't be able to. Never mind, I'll no doubt get to see it again another day.
Look forward to seeing your photos, Peter: just don't stand too close to the end of the runway though. ;D
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Post by planeimages on Aug 23, 2006 16:25:29 GMT 12
Many thanks, Sir, for the wise advice. A little left of the centreline will keep everybody safe. The thresholds at Temora are a fair way from the roads.
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Post by corsair67 on Aug 23, 2006 19:07:25 GMT 12
Peter, apart from Tyabb, do you know if there is anywhere else in Australia where the road and end of the runway are that darn close?
Anyway, have a great time at Temora on the 15th/16th September.
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Post by planeimages on Aug 23, 2006 20:57:14 GMT 12
Albion Park' Runway 34 approach is fairly close to the road on the south eastern end.
The Cowpasture Road and a service station are pretty close to the 34 approach end of Hoxton Park. Nothing beats Tyabb though!
The car park at the western end of KSA's 07 approach is entertaining but not a threat as the aircraft are well above at that point.
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Post by corsair67 on Sept 4, 2006 14:56:12 GMT 12
From TAM.
The next Temora Aviation Museum flying weekend is rapidly approaching with all staff preparing for what promises to be another spectacular round of displays.
The aircraft engineering team have been re-assembling the Spitfire Mk XVI which will fly on September 16 & 17 in formation with the Museum’s Spitfire Mk VIII. This will be a truly unique event. It is believed that Australia has not seen a formation of Spitfires in the sky since the late 1940’s.
On the September Flying Weekend Temora Aviation Museum and Temora Shire Council will celebrate the achievements of the Museum during its first five years and mark the official opening on runway 05 / 23 at Temora Aerodrome.
The Royal Australian Air Force is supporting this momentous weekend by sending the Roulettes Formation Aerobatic Team on Saturday 16th September. The Roulettes have participated in the flying at Temora before and always put on a amazing show.
So prepare now for a visit to the Temora Aviation Museum’s September Flying Weekend, so that you don’t miss out on this historic occasion.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 4, 2006 16:52:55 GMT 12
Thanks for the update. Two Spits, cool. Nicely timed for the Battle of Britain commemorations too I guess.
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Post by stu on Sept 4, 2006 17:25:25 GMT 12
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Post by xr6turbo1 on Sept 4, 2006 19:59:31 GMT 12
Wow, Spitifres are worth a huge amount of money these days. $3million US. Dont think I will be getting one soon  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 4, 2006 20:22:26 GMT 12
That is Tony Rafter's company, an Aussie guy responsible for buying warbirds, hiking the price up and then selling them on.
Apparently it's good for the industry what he's doing as it will make warbirds more valuable - up till now some warbird types have cost more to restore than what they've fetched on the market afterwards. So this will set new benchmarks for the market and allow restoration companies to make something back. He has also been responsible during his short time as a dealer in shifting some very significant warbirds around the world, such as the TFC's collection.
This Mk V is hoped to be flying by early next year. I doubt it will stay in NZ though. I'd rather see a local multi-millionaire secure the future of the AFC Hurricane in this country ratehr than another Spitfire right now actually. The Hurrciane has many Kiwi connections and is ratehr significant to this country. Spitfires are almost as common as Fletchers these days the rate the UK is now churning them out.
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AJ
Flight Sergeant
Posts: 28
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Post by AJ on Sept 5, 2006 3:27:24 GMT 12
3 million does seem a bit pricey for a spit. I wish someone in Oz would hurry up and buy that Beaufighter, would look great in formation with the Beaufort when she gets completed!
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Post by stu on Sept 5, 2006 14:59:04 GMT 12
I'd rather see a local multi-millionaire secure the future of the AFC Hurricane in this country ratehr than another Spitfire right now actually. The Hurrciane has many Kiwi connections and is ratehr significant to this country. Spitfires are almost as common as Fletchers these days the rate the UK is now churning them out. At the risk of setting off a debate over the virtues (or lack thereof) of various WW2 aircraft, I tend to agree with you Dave. As much as I love Spitfires, and there is no doubt that they are a truly beautiful aircraft, I've always had a soft spot for the poor old Hurri - kind of an underdog syndrome that's reflected in this bit of drivel found in a recent book written by someone with a similar name to mine ;D "Mention the Battle of Britain and the image that most people conjure up is one of squadrons of Spitfires engaging the enemy in do or die dogfights. Unfortunately, this image tends to overshadow the real workhorse of Britain’s Fighter Command, the Hawker Hurricane. Not only were they responsible for more than two thirds of all enemy aircraft shot down during the Battle of Britain but prior to this, they faced the might of the Luftwaffe in the ill-fated battles for Norway and France, providing the first real fighter opposition the Germans had encountered." Personally, I feel a similar situation existed with the P-51 and the P-40 although it's pleasing to see that there are an increasing number of airworthy P-40s appearing worldwide now. I guess that in an ideal (warbird) world there would be at least one, if not more, of each of these aircraft in the country without the "for sale" axe hanging over their head but it's far from an ideal world. Just my $0.10 worth ($0.02 +gst+acc levy+inflation adjustment+rates increase+etc ... ) |
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Post by corsair67 on Sept 9, 2006 18:42:16 GMT 12
This e-mail arrived last night:
"The exhaust pipes on the Packard built Rolls Royce Merlin engine are still warm following the initial test flight of Temora Aviation Museum’s new Supermarine Mk XVI Spitfire TB863. Steve Death arrived at the Museum yesterday afternoon to get ready for todays test flight. His preparation included a short flight in the Mk VIII Spitfire and reviewing the test flight schedule with Chief Engineer Peter Pring-Shambler.
With the ink barely dry on the Certificate of Airworthiness Steve climbed into the cockpit this afternoon, pressed the starter button and smiled as the Merlin came to life.
Steve stated: “It was a pleasure to fly such a nice airplane. The Mk XVI performed extremely well and is remarkably similar to our other Spitfire, the Mk VIII. The Museum engineering team did an excellent job reassembling the aircraft and that was made evident when the test flight schedule was completed without a single defect being noted. I can’t wait for Museum visitors to see the new Spitfire on September 16th and 17th”
The Museum is planning to fly both Spitfires in formation at our next Flying Weekend. It will be a huge event with the RAAF Roulettes, Mustang, Boomerang and more."
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Post by yak2 on Sept 9, 2006 19:28:21 GMT 12
Steve Death is a very experienced pilot and performs a wondeful aerobatic display in his T28. When he first converted onto the Mk VIII at Temora, some wag stuck an 'L' (for learner driver) plate on the door which was only revealed when he closed the canopy. Steve has also been the ferry pilot for the GA Airvan delivery flights to the US, and a really nice bloke too.
Unfortunately my bird is due for its annual so unlikely I will be able to make Temora this time.
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