I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on the number of airworthy spits there currently are in the world?
When I last ‘heard’, the 51st had just become airworthy (by airworthy I mean all those that are capable of flying even if under various states of restoration/refit). This was a year or two back at least. Since then, I’ve been aware of very little info regarding the number of airworthy spits, but then at Duxford on the Sunday, the French chap in the tower who was trying to be funny (but judging by the reactions of those around me, was trying little other than their patience) said during the phenomenal Spitifre dislpay, that we were “watching one third of the world’s airworthy spitfire population”. As there were 8 displaying, he seemed to be implying that there are only 24 spits airworthy world-wide, a number half that of the apparant 51 I had last heard of!
I trust someone can help.
By: British Canuck - 24th January 2006 at 14:01
Who was the owner at that time?
By: Yak 11 Fan - 24th January 2006 at 13:56
No, operated maybe, but owned no.
By: British Canuck - 24th January 2006 at 13:53
So Alan de Cadenet only owned for the aircraft from 2000-2002….
By: DazDaMan - 24th January 2006 at 13:21
CofA expired end of May ’02 and, apart from a brief hop over to Duxford by, I think, Lee Proudfoot, she hasn’t flown since to the best of my knowledge.
By: British Canuck - 24th January 2006 at 13:12
Is she still a non flyer these days?
By: DazDaMan - 24th January 2006 at 13:08
Is TE184 no longer owned by Alan de Cadenet/de Cadenet Motor Racing?
According to G-INFO it is, but I think she’s currently in the care of OFMC.
By: British Canuck - 24th January 2006 at 13:06
Is TE184 no longer owned by Alan de Cadenet/de Cadenet Motor Racing?
By: Melvyn Hiscock - 1st October 2005 at 21:05
Don’t hold your breath!
By: zouzy86 - 1st October 2005 at 19:22
Im looking at shares in it Mark, but i want more info on the plane and project!
By: *Zwitter* - 1st October 2005 at 18:36
A bit off topic, but what is so special about MH434 really? Why is it so notorious?
if you have to ask you’ll never understand
By: Mark12 - 1st October 2005 at 18:00
I was surfing the other day and i see ML411 is now going to be restored as a TR IX.
http://www.spitfireflight.com/
zouzy86,
Would you possibly be the French/European agent for this venture, as mentioned on the website?
Mark
By: JDK - 1st October 2005 at 01:25
Don’t worry APC, if you don’t make a few mistooks, you don’t make anything!
As regards your other question – of the regular flying Spitfires, no – they’ve all been rebuilt / major overhaul. Despite popular cynical opinion, a good number are mostly original parts, while others are, indeed, mostly new metal.
Of course there are a few Spitfires that are ‘airworthy’ but have reasonable fuel bills even today, as well as needing a regular dust. One or two of these Hangar queens might claim to have only had less major overhauls…
By: APC104 - 30th September 2005 at 21:33
Wrong Wrong Wrong APC104… teach me to try and be clever…! 😉
Are there any FLYING Spits that have not had a major overhaul and are not a rebuild project – ie not been taken apart since the original build date?
By: JDK - 30th September 2005 at 14:33
Echoooo 😀
By: dhfan - 30th September 2005 at 14:17
Had been. I think it finally had a major overhaul in 1995-ish.
Beaten by JDK – must type quicker. 🙂
By: JDK - 30th September 2005 at 14:17
Neck chopped off, I’m afraid!
Rebuilt / major overhaul by ARCo (in the early 90s IIRC).
Cheers!
By: APC104 - 30th September 2005 at 14:14
Sticking his neck out he says :rolleyes:
Hasn’t MH434 also being flying for all these years without a major overhaul… the warbird version of a civil C or D Check… if so the very nice man from the CAA must really like Mr Hanna!
By: JDK - 30th September 2005 at 12:50
I’ve always eaten Mike – I just don’t put on weight…
Melbourne is a food capital. Life is great. 😉
By: JDK - 30th September 2005 at 11:31
What happened to the MH434 book project mooted on here a couple of years ago?
Sshhhssshhh…. :rolleyes: Don’t mention the war!
It’s on the list of no-revenue projects to do when I’ve got time. Should someone feel like taking a lead on the project, that would expidite matters.
For newer posters on the forum, have a look here: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=20097
Yes, I though I hoped to do it quickly, between other projects, but the oportunity never arrose. Earning to feed was more important. 😉
By: Arabella-Cox - 30th September 2005 at 10:24
Just wondering……
What happened to the MH434 book project mooted on here a couple of years ago?
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July 19, 2005 at 9:37 pm