This appeared on the Ananova news website. The aircraft referred to is MK912 of Historic Flying.
“Canadian pays £1 million for wartime Spitfire
A Canadian architect has paid more than £1 million for a restored Spitfire
thought to have been the first allied plane to land in France after D-Day.
Ed Russell, who is in his late sixties, will have the vintage aircraft
shipped from England to Ontario in the next few months.
The Spitfire was built in 1944 and originally flown by 312 Squadron during
the Second World War.
After the war it was bought by the Belgian Airforce and fell into disrepair.
In 1987, the Spitfire was bought by the Historic Flying Company – which is
based at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, and specialises in restoring vintage
aircraft.
Experts worked for two years reassembling the plane which is now in full
flying order.
A spokeswoman for the company said Mr Russell, who was learning to fly, was
hoping to pilot the plane when it arrived in Canada.”
By: DIGBY - 15th May 2003 at 21:55
“Flypast and Aeroplane Have got it wrong”
Nothing new there then.
By: Tom_W - 15th May 2003 at 20:36
Sorry boys, should’ve checked G-Info beforehand, that’s both Flypast and Aeroplane who’ve got it wrong then, maybe I should send them the link? 😉
Tom.
By: Ant.H - 13th May 2003 at 19:43
As Mark says,RN201 is owned by HFL and is still up for sale.Since Mr.Bos took over,HFL restore the aircraft then sell them,rather than selling the project and restoring them with a particular customer in mind.As it stands at the moment,Mk.XVI TD248 and Mk.XVIII SM845 are up for sale alongside RN201,with Tr.9 PV202 under rebuild.
By: Mark12 - 13th May 2003 at 19:27
Tom,
I think you will find that HFL restored the Mk XIV RN201 for HFL.
By: Tom_W - 13th May 2003 at 18:46
…though they did restore the XIV RN201 for the HAC recently but I’m guessing that was a job which was waiting in the pipeline from before Karel Bos bought the company.
Tom.
By: Yak 11 Fan - 12th May 2003 at 15:04
Since Karel Bos took over Historic Flying they have apparently only rebuilt their own Spitfires for operation and eventual sale.
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th May 2003 at 13:06
I don’t know the full details Ant, but I think they carry out a lot of external work as well. Presumably that must be sufficient for them to keep on going.
By: Sibs - 12th May 2003 at 12:49
Harvard
I saw the report on Anglia whilst visiting home.
Think the Harvard was FE992 ‘K@T’ G-BDAM.
Didn’t hear the report say if the Harvard would end up in Canada as well.
By: Ant.H - 12th May 2003 at 00:36
Well it’s good to know that HFL’s position seems so secure,but if the sale of the machines they restore isn’t important to the business,how does it function??I know Karel Bos is a wealthy man,but can he really afford to prop the company up to such a large degree?
By: Merlinmagic - 11th May 2003 at 22:58
DB is correct. HFL are more interested in the fact that it is going to a very good home.
By: David Burke - 11th May 2003 at 22:42
Ant – I don’t think the sale is a big issue for HFL .
By: Seafuryfan - 11th May 2003 at 22:39
Flying Skill
Congratulations and good luck to Mr Russell – another major supporter for the warbird world emerges.
Let’s hope he goes through the full taildragger package, has A1 instruction, and gets plenty of T6 hours before he enjoys his purchase.
From an optimistic but slightly nervous enthusiast.
By: Ant.H - 11th May 2003 at 21:59
The Spit is LF.IX MK912/G-BRRA,restored by Historic Flying Ltd.She was completed about 3 years ago but has only just been sold. This is the first spit that HFL have shifted in about 5 years,so this sale must come as a relief for them.
By: Der - 11th May 2003 at 21:35
Which Spit is it then?
By: Arabella-Cox - 10th May 2003 at 09:55
I didn’t see the piece myself, but apparently Anglia news ran a story about this last night, and said Mr Russell’s also acquired a Harvard. Presumably (and hopefully) so that he can get used to flying taildraggers without writing himself off in short order.
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May 10, 2003 at 8:50 am