Most original Spit?

P7350 is in bits at ARCo. The wings are off and the spars are stamped 1939 and 1940. It is having a re-spar.

I hope nobody’s thinking of trashing those originals. Are they going to end up in a museum somewhere?

TD248 was totally re-skinned when rebuilt to flying condition and its RAF service skin is also still extant on a static model.So TD248 is nowhere near as original as many others.

Yep, ta, knew that, ;)the piece I had (stencilled TD248) was found in a bunc of T-6 spares we acquired from DX, Went to Steve Vizard in the end.

TT

P7350 is in bits at ARCo. The wings are off and the spars are stamped 1939 and 1940. It is having a re-spar. Here are a few shots in its current state.

Spar

Hi Eddie , yes i agree an amount of originality will be lost. Hopefully ARCO will only replace the spar booms but who knows what they might find after 68 yrs. Steve

I remember having a booklet about the BBMF in the mid-eighties, which showed a picture of P7350’s main spar which had suffered damage when the Merlin that had been fitted since 1944 was changed before or during her return to the air and use in filming ‘Battle Of Britain’ in 1968. It was serious enough to ground her for a while in the early eighties. It was something to do with the fuel pipes I think, but only going by memory as I don’t have the booklet now- over to you Mark V! So quite likely some originality was lost then.

rotfl!!! Even I had a bit of that one~!

😀

TD248 was totally re-skinned when rebuilt to flying condition and its RAF service skin is also still extant on a static model.So TD248 is nowhere near as original as many others. I suspect Israeli AF 57 is very much still largely as it was in the 1950s and still airworthy! As a non flyer SM914 is a good candidate

Which TD248??? :p

rotfl!!! Even I had a bit of that one~!

😀

Steve,

It will, unfortunately, dilute the amount of original material present, though won’t it? Obviously if it’s necessary, it’s worth it, but it doesn’t change the fact that the percentage of original material will be reduced when the aircraft emerges after overhaul.

Ed

Hi Eddie , yes i agree an amount of originality will be lost. Hopefully ARCO will only replace the spar booms but who knows what they might find after 68 yrs. Steve

Steve,

It will, unfortunately, dilute the amount of original material present, though won’t it? Obviously if it’s necessary, it’s worth it, but it doesn’t change the fact that the percentage of original material will be reduced when the aircraft emerges after overhaul.

Ed

Steve

maybe now but in a few months maybe not

Hi bentwing , I wouldnt call overhall & re-spar messing with originality. If she needs this to keep her in the air then its got to be done. Call it TLC !!!

Steve

I remember TD248 very well (when it was silver with a red stripe) Then another one appeared…

Low back MKXVI, was silver with red flash. Would have thought P7350 was most origional & least messed with.

Steve

Steve

Steve

maybe now but in a few months maybe not

Low back MKXVI, was silver with red flash.

Steve

Oh! That TD248. 🙂

Which airworthy Spitfire is the most original in terms of structure/parts?

Yak 11

back to your dark room!!

Which TD248??? :p

Low back MKXVI, was silver with red flash. Would have thought P7350 was most origional & least messed with.

Steve

Steve

Which TD248??? :p

Ok i,ll enter this minefield

Tony Bantas Mk XVI TB252 on rebuild

As for flyers PS853, PM631, im told TD248 is a good one as well.;)

AR501,MH434,MK959, EP120,BM597 are all up there as well.

Also SM969, but i am bias.

RW382 was very original when HFL first flew it.

P7350 is about to have some major work including new spars and skins.

SM914 is the real prize, totally stock, rocket rails,bomb racks,guns and even belted ammo!

A very difficult subject to go into.

AR501 or AB910?

AB910 had to have a lot of repair work after a Harvard taxied into it in Switzerland in the late 70s.

Surely one of the BBMF PR.XIXs would be a worthy contender?

from what little i know

i would have said MH434

but thats a wild guest 🙂

AR501 or AB910?