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Post by ZacYates on Apr 25, 2009 9:31:11 GMT 12
For a nation whose air force didn't operate them, we sure have a decent amount (and yes I'm aware of the NZ RAF squadrons, just meaning the RNZAF itself ) I make the following list: IXc PV270/ZK-SPI - Brendon Deere, Ohakea Tr.IX MH367/ZK-WDQ - Doug Brooker, under repair at AvSpecs, Ardmore XIV NH799/ZK-XIV - Provenance Fighter Sales, under rebuild at AvSpecs, Ardmore XVI TB252/N??? - Tony Banta, under rebuild at AvSpecs, Ardmore XVI TE288 - RNZAF Museum, Wigram XVI TE456 - Auckland War Memorial Museum And, of course, the three Mk.Vs and two Mk.XVIs that have departed our shores in the last decade. Anyone with any additions? Also photos, especially of NH799 and TB252 as they are now.
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Post by ErrolC on Apr 25, 2009 19:11:14 GMT 12
For a nation whose air force didn't operate them, we sure have a decent amount (and yes I'm aware of the NZ RAF squadrons, just meaning the RNZAF itself smile.gif ) I make the following list: <snip> XVI TE456 - Auckland War Memorial Museum Anyone with any additions? Also photos, especially of NH799 and TB252 as they are now. Nice and fresh!!
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Post by ZacYates on Apr 25, 2009 19:43:44 GMT 12
What's up with the wrinkles in the spinner?
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Post by ErrolC on Apr 25, 2009 20:07:28 GMT 12
What's up with the wrinkles in the spinner? No idea, but they are closest to the public :-(
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Post by ZacYates on Apr 25, 2009 20:41:07 GMT 12
She does look very nice though. I never used to like lowback XVIs, but over the past few hours I've really grown to like them. How long ago was this paint work done, and by who?
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Post by ErrolC on Apr 25, 2009 21:10:55 GMT 12
She does look very nice though. I never used to like lowback XVIs, but over the past few hours I've really grown to like them. How long ago was this paint work done, and by who? The display was re-done in 1997 (I had thought it was slightly more recent) in public!! My excuse for not seeing this happen is being in England at the time. From www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/spitfire.html"In 1997 the aircraft was refurbished (along with the Museum's Mitsubishi A6M3) in readiness for moving to new display areas. Interestingly, the work on the aircraft was carried out in a public gallery. Having been displayed in natural metal, the restoration team found evidence of camouflage having been present from its time with 501 Squadron. The aircraft is now presented in the colours of 501 'County of Gloucester' Squadron marked RAB-J. (illustrated below)"
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 26, 2009 12:39:23 GMT 12
I am reliably informed that the fuselage of Spitfire MK IX BR601 is in storage with Avspecs waiting its turn in the restoration Queue and the fuselage of Spitfire MK XIVe RM873 which was also in storage with Avspecs but has now been shipped to a new owner in the UK
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Post by ZacYates on Apr 26, 2009 14:41:27 GMT 12
I am reliably informed that the fuselage of Spitfire MK IX BR601 is in storage with Avspecs waiting its turn in the restoration Queue What a delightful, unexpected revelation! Thank you again Dave, and to your informant. An interesting history this machine has, according to the Warbird Registry: Delivered to SAAF as 5631. - BOC: Mar. 13, 1949. Harold Barnett/South African Metal & Machinery Co, Salt River, Cape Town, SA, Mar. 10, 1955-1987. - Displayed on pole at scrapyard as PV260/DB-P. - Later restored by Atlas Aircraft Co., Capetown, SA. Auctioned by Christies, London, UK, Oct. 31, 1987. Doug A. Arnold/Warbirds of GB Ltd, Biggin Hill, UK, Oct. 31, 1987-1992. - Arrived dismantled, Thruxton, July 6, 1989. - Stored, 1989-1992. - Partially restored, 1992. Dick Melton Aviation, Winchester, 1993. Mike Araldi & Harry Stenger/Jet Cap Aviation Corp, Bartow, FL, USA, 1994-2002. - Under restoration to airworthy, Bartow, FL. Further research shows her to have been seen as recently as 25/10/07 at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, Tx. So who is the current owner? I'm under no illusions that it could POSSIBLY be for a Kiwi owner....but I could dream. I think I remember mention of that XIVe some time ago, shame to hear she's away but hopefully will fly again regardless I wonder if NZ could be the new place for Spitfire rebuilds? After the magnificent work by AvSpecs on BL628, and of course ITL Aviation's PV270, could we see more overseas Spits coming here to be restored? Pioneer seems to be "the" P-40 house, so I wonder if AvSpecs will be "the" Spit place? IX BR601/? - in store at AvSpecs IXc PV270/ZK-SPI - Brendon Deere, Ohakea Tr.IX MH367/ZK-WDQ - Doug Brooker, under repair at AvSpecs, Ardmore XIV NH799/ZK-XIV - Provenance Fighter Sales, under rebuild at AvSpecs, Ardmore XVI TB252/N??? - Tony Banta, under rebuild at AvSpecs, Ardmore XVI TE288 - RNZAF Museum, Wigram XVI TE456 - Auckland War Memorial Museum
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Post by Richard Wesley on Apr 26, 2009 22:35:37 GMT 12
She does look very nice though. I never used to like lowback XVIs, but over the past few hours I've really grown to like them. How long ago was this paint work done, and by who? Restoration of the Auckland Museum spitfire was undertaken by the Don Subritzky family crew as I understand it.
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petera
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 88
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Post by petera on Apr 27, 2009 6:57:59 GMT 12
TE456 was repainted in the markings it carried while serving with 501 Squadron RAF in 1946.
The US owner of Spitfire BR601 would prefer to remain anonymous.
PeterA
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Post by ZacYates on Apr 27, 2009 7:17:45 GMT 12
Thanks Peter whoever the owner is, they're certainly very smart to have chosen AvSpecs to rebuild their Spitfire. Of course, I posted my inquiry BEFORE looking into my copy of Spitfire: The New Zealand Story, which details the refurbishment of TE456 by ACE in some, uh, detail. It's been looked after very well, as I knew it'd had some refurbishment into the camo, but I thought it was much more recently due to the condition she's currently in! Very fine work by the Subritzkys and Co.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 27, 2009 9:27:01 GMT 12
Peter, why did this squadron and some other postwar fighter squadrons go to the three-letter squadron code? Was it something to do with being a Territorial squadron or something?
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Post by aeromuzz on Apr 27, 2009 11:07:07 GMT 12
And, of course, the three Mk.Vs and two Mk.XVIs that have departed our shores in the last decade.quote] 3 Mk.V's ? Subritzky, Rod Lewis and what other one? AFC's never came to NZ so that rules that one out. I heard that the Subritzkys had a second Mk.V project. Is this it?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 27, 2009 14:50:49 GMT 12
Knowing that the AFC's Mk. V never came to NZ, I wondered the same thing. There's a replica Mk. V at Classic Flyers Musuem in Tauranga, that's all i can think of.
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Post by ZacYates on Apr 27, 2009 17:24:15 GMT 12
The Subritzkys had two Mk.Vs, according to Spitfire: The New Zealand Story: JG891/A58-178, now flying, and EF545/A58-149 Sad AR614 never came to NZ, I remember seeing her in the 1996 Wanaka book for the first time and thinking how cool it would be to have a MkV in NZ.
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petera
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 88
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Post by petera on Apr 27, 2009 20:19:53 GMT 12
Along with JG891 Don Subritzky ended up with the residue of the EF545 wreck from Kiriwina.
Of the three, it was the worst of the bunch, burnt out and finally sectioned with a saw for transport...well it was the 1970's.
The third Kiriwina wreck LZ844 went to Barry Coran in Australia.
EF545, little more than a firewall and data plate, was traded to a UK party and has further changed hands. It is now with Guy Black pending a full restoration. G-CDGY
PeterA
(Dave, I do not know if you have tweaked my connection. I can now post from my desktop PC)
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petera
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 88
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Post by petera on Apr 27, 2009 20:26:18 GMT 12
Peter, why did this squadron and some other postwar fighter squadrons go to the three-letter squadron code? Was it something to do with being a Territorial squadron or something? Post WWII, a revised coding system. Aircraft in 'Reserve Command' units carried the extra 'R' in the code. PeterA
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 27, 2009 21:07:55 GMT 12
Thanks for explaining the reserve code, I have always wondered.
As for your connection, I did nothing, but I'm glad it's working again. Maybe your computer had a slight bout of swine fever?
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Post by ZacYates on Apr 28, 2009 7:07:57 GMT 12
Flu, it's swine flu Nice to see you here Peter, welcome aboard! Cool to hear its with Guy Black. Can never have too many Mark Fives.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 28, 2009 12:59:54 GMT 12
Peter's been here longer than you have Zac!
It's not actually Swine Flu, it's a human/bird flu and the pigs are innocent. Stupid media. It's all a lot of hype, just like SARS, Bird Flu, etc in the past. That's why I said Swine Fever.
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