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: Napier Sabre - 19th July 2005 at 22:08
I believe the one which was in the Champlin collection, now at Seattle is still in ‘airworthy’ trim (as is the ‘Dora’) but guessing she wont fly for some time.
By: dhfan - 19th July 2005 at 22:05
At one stage I believe there were around 60 world-wide. I think it was FlyPast did a special supplement or extended article a few years back and that was their figure.
I don’t know of any that have been completely destroyed since then, although given the current facilities available I’m not sure it’s possible. 🙂
By: DazDaMan - 19th July 2005 at 22:03
The list is always under a bit of revision – these are generally defined as “airworthy”:
MkIIa P7350 (UK)
MkVB AB910 (UK)
MkVc AR501 (UK)
MkVc AR614 (USA)
MkVB BM597 (UK)
MkVB EP120 (UK)
MkVIIIc MT719 (USA)
MkVIIIc MV154 (MT928) (UK)
MkVIIIc MV239 (Australia)
T.8 MT818* (USA)
MkIXc MA793** (Brazil)
MkIXc MH434 (UK)
MkIXe MJ730 (USA)
MkIXc MK356 (UK)
MkIXc MK732 (Netherlands)
MkIXc MK912 (Canada)
MkIXc MK959 (USA)
MkIXe ML417 (USA)
MkIXc PL344 (USA)
MkIXe TE554 (flown recently for Ezer Weisman’s funeral, I believe) (Israel)
Tr.9 MJ627 (UK)
Tr.9 MJ772 (USA)
Tr.9 ML407 (UK)
Tr.9 PT462 (UK)
Tr.9 PV202 (IAC161) (UK)
Tr.9 TE308 (USA)
Pr.XI PL965 (UK)
MkXIVe MV293 (MV268) (UK)
MkXIVe NH749 (is this one now with the CAF?) (USA)
MkXIVe NH904 (USA)
MkXIVe RN201 (UK)
MkXIVe SM832 (USA)
MkXIVe TZ138 (Canada)
MkXVIe SL721 (Canada)
MkXVIe TB863 (New Zealand)
MkXVIe TD248 (UK)
MkXVIe TE184 (UK)
MkXVIe TE356 (USA)
MkXVIe TE392 (USA)
MkXVIe TE476 (USA)
MkXVIII SM845 (UK)
MkXVIII TP280 (USA)
Pr.XIX PM631 (UK)
Pr.XIX PS853 (UK)
Pr.XIX PS890 (France)
Pr.XIX PS915 (UK)
Seafire 47 VP441 (USA)
* – maintained in airworthy condition – not flown for a while, I think
** – has she flown since arriving in Brazil?
That makes about 47 aircraft – I may have missed one or two, though.
AR213 is under restoration to full MkIa spec, so technically not airworthy (in my opinion).
By: Napier Sabre - 19th July 2005 at 21:58
Are there not a few Seafires under restoration?
By: Rich82 - 19th July 2005 at 21:57
So the 21 airworthy, 2 under restoration and one resting, makes 24 altogether, like the French guy said. Is AR213 one of the active restorations? And when will that be completed?
By: Napier Sabre - 19th July 2005 at 21:52
Would the ‘resting’ Spit be TE184? anybody know whats going on with this Spit?
By: planejunky - 19th July 2005 at 21:49
Our UK directory currently holds 21 Spitfire’s flying with 2 actively under restoration, and one resting. These figures are just for the UK, as for the rest of the world, I’ll pass that to someone else! 😉
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July 19, 2005 at 9:37 pm