that a UK based Spitfire Mk XVIIIe (SM969) and P-47D have been purchased by Australian based Tony Raftis and are making their way downunder.
They will join his fast growing collection that includes also recently purchased aircraft – two Mustangs, a Corsair, a Sea Fury and a BeechD-17. He must have won lotto or something, instant collection almost overnight!
Where is this collection to be based in Australia? Setter? Anyone?
By: oz rb fan - 16th December 2005 at 12:55
now all we need is for him to buy the zuccoli fiat so it too may stay downunder
paul
By: DazDaMan - 15th December 2005 at 23:26
Yes, the P-47G in Mark’s photo is the one shown in Classic Wings. In fact the two photos were possibly taken at the same time by the looks of things. It was bought from Ray Stutsman by a Texas collection, then sold to “a UK owner” who put it into storage 15 years ago.
The Spitfire by the way is silver with a black anti-glare strip on top of the nose, with the codes D-A. It’s a cutback Mk XVIIIe formerly from India, and coded SM969.
The Mustangs Tony Raftis has bought are a TF-51D from Square One Aviation at Chino, and P-51D 45-11526 from Bill Wyllie in Perth. The latter now wears the scheme of Bill Shomo’s “Flying Undertaker”.
The Sea Fury is VH-HFG, formerly with the late Guido Zuccoli, and his widow Lynn.
He’s also got a P-40N-5 project, 42-104947, which was the aircraft of ace Major Ernest Harris of the 8th Sqn, 49th FG. It’s being restored to original scheme at Precision Aerospace, Wangaratta.
His Beech D-17S is N1932M.
And his Corsair is FG-1D Bu/No. 92106, formerly owned by Gary Kohs, and a 2003 Oshkosh Grand Champion Warbird winner – as was his P-47G in 1982.
Bloody hell! That’s quite a bunch! 😮
By: Dave Homewood - 15th December 2005 at 23:12
Yes, the P-47G in Mark’s photo is the one shown in Classic Wings. In fact the two photos were possibly taken at the same time by the looks of things. It was bought from Ray Stutsman by a Texas collection, then sold to “a UK owner” who put it into storage 15 years ago.
The Spitfire by the way is silver with a black anti-glare strip on top of the nose, with the codes D-A. It’s a cutback Mk XVIIIe formerly from India, and coded SM969.
The Mustangs Tony Raftis has bought are a TF-51D from Square One Aviation at Chino, and P-51D 45-11526 from Bill Wyllie in Perth. The latter now wears the scheme of Bill Shomo’s “Flying Undertaker”.
The Sea Fury is VH-HFG, formerly with the late Guido Zuccoli, and his widow Lynn.
He’s also got a P-40N-5 project, 42-104947, which was the aircraft of ace Major Ernest Harris of the 8th Sqn, 49th FG. It’s being restored to original scheme at Precision Aerospace, Wangaratta.
His Beech D-17S is N1932M.
And his Corsair is FG-1D Bu/No. 92106, formerly owned by Gary Kohs, and a 2003 Oshkosh Grand Champion Warbird winner – as was his P-47G in 1982.
By: Glenn_Alderton - 15th December 2005 at 22:47
look we had the Ashes for so long anyway, and you guys were never gonna let them leave England, so we are working on slowly bit by bit bringing everything else over 🙂
By: PDS - 15th December 2005 at 22:09
I’m surprised that no-one’s mentioned…
I’m surprised that no-one’s mentioned…
But no one asked!!!!
By: Mark12 - 15th December 2005 at 20:08
Ashes to ashes.
By: Mark12 - 15th December 2005 at 20:03
You’ve got me stumped with that comment
can someone bail me out here?
‘Little urn’…what do you think of the show so far?
By: Rich82 - 15th December 2005 at 20:00
You’ve got me stumped with that comment
can someone bail me out here?
Taxi for one……..
By: jeepman - 15th December 2005 at 19:48
Strikes me that a Spitfire and a P47 are fair trade for a little urn… :diablo:
ADrian
You’ve got me stumped with that comment
can someone bail me out here?
By: adrian_gray - 15th December 2005 at 18:51
Strikes me that a Spitfire and a P47 are fair trade for a little urn… :diablo:
ADrian
By: DazDaMan - 15th December 2005 at 18:02
Love that shot – looks almost authentic with that jeep alongside.
By: Rocketeer - 15th December 2005 at 17:57
Cheers! I and countless others would have paid for that to fly in formation with “No Guts No Glory”!!
By: Rlangham - 15th December 2005 at 14:03
Wow what a beautiful sight!
By: Mark12 - 15th December 2005 at 13:34
It is this one.
Here is a shot I took 20 years ago in Elkart Indiana, shortly before going for a little stooge round the local area with the then owner Ray Stutsman.
Mark
By: Firebird - 15th December 2005 at 13:12
Which P47D?
Pretty sure it’s the Doug Arnold ‘razorback’ one that’s been stuck inside a crate at North Weald for years.
By: Rich82 - 15th December 2005 at 13:10
Shame, it would’ve been nice to see that P-47 in the air alongside ‘No Guts, No Glory’!
Is the P-47G the same one that went to David Arnold/Flying A Services at North Weald a few years back? I believe it was put into storage then…..what happened to it? Has it been there since and now on the move Down Under?
By: Dave Homewood - 15th December 2005 at 08:18
Sorry, my mistake, should have read the latest Classic Wings more carefully – it’s a P-47G-10-CU, serial number 42-25068, and nicknamed “Little Demon”
By: Rocketeer - 15th December 2005 at 07:40
Which P47D?
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December 15, 2005 at 5:55 am