MV293 & NH799 Spitfire restorations in 1988 at Duxford

My mistake – I meant Blackbushe

Bruce

[
The fuselage tube we got at HFL was undoubtedly NH799, but wings and tails (and internal parts) had got mixed up at Bitteswell so heaven knows how much of the original ended up in the flying aeroplane.

Bruce[/QUOTE]

those a/c never went to Bitterswell

Mark,
Did you happen to take any of MV293 and NV799 at Duxford in 1988. The reason I keep asking particularly for 1988 photos, is because I visited Duxford on 3rd July that year. Didn’t make any detailed notes back in those days and the only surviving photos I have are of photos of the outside exhibits that year.
Im trying to see whether they were full aircraft or just fuselage’s with either any markings or no markings. Looking at Rob’s and C Whiteman’s photos above from 1989 and 1991. I vaguely remember this is what they may of looked like, but from previous experience the memory does cheat and I could be wrong. 1988 photos would nail it.

Albert

I have found a photo of NH799 in a disassembled state on its arrival in UK, not sure where the photo is taken at either Duxford or Bitteswell. Can anyone make out where in the link below under NH799.

Albert

The photo was taken at Blackbushe shortly after arrival in the UK by myself.

I am currently away from my records but can date it later.

Mark

Sorry about the long delay in replying to the posts above, my night shifts getting in the way.

Anyway my next question is to Bruce or anyone else who can answer this question,

Bruce,
looking at Rob’s and C Whiteman photos from 1991 of MV293 and C Whiteman photo of NH799 in 1989. Would you say that this is what they would of looked like in the summer of 1988. Both just fuselage sections with no markings and bare metal.

Albert

A lot of restoration work was carried out on NH799 by Warbirds of Great Britain, before the aircraft was sold to TFC. IIRC, it was then sold to Charles Church, and bought back by TFC after his death.

The fuselage tube we got at HFL was undoubtedly NH799, but wings and tails (and internal parts) had got mixed up at Bitteswell so heaven knows how much of the original ended up in the flying aeroplane.

The photo you reference was taken when it arrived back in the UK, so is presumably at Bitteswell.

Bruce

Thanks Guys for the fantastic photos all at Duxford. What I am also interested to know is, what condition were they in just before the restoration started.
I have found a photo of NH799 in a disassembled state on its arrival in UK, not sure where the photo is taken at either Duxford or Bitteswell. Can anyone make out where in the link below under NH799.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Aircraft/Spitfire.html

Looks to be stored in an area, probably not accessed by the general public. hence why no photos taken in there natural state.
I suppose I had a romantic picture in my mind that they where full spitfires and just need a lick of paint and internal parts replacing, not in the state the photo shows of NH799 major surgery needed.

Albert

Hmm, prices from £26 ish on abebooks.com, although there are some stupid prices noted.

Its obviously calmed down now – last time I looked they were £86 minimum 😮

mv293 & nh799 pics

Here’s a few taken from my collection
[ATTACH]190467[/ATTACH] mv293 under restoration april 1991

[ATTACH]190466[/ATTACH] mv293 under restoration 1992

[ATTACH]190469[/ATTACH] nh799 under restoration oct 1989

[ATTACH]190468[/ATTACH] nh799 awaiting test flight later in the day march 1994

Actually, I stand corrected, there are hardly any of ‘799 in that book. Period copies of ‘Warbirds Worldwide’ might be a better bet, especially the HFL ads on the back!

Bruce

exceptionally useful book for my project…2 years in workshop has taken its toll!

Hmm, prices from £26 ish on abebooks.com, although there are some stupid prices noted.

Its good, but not that good!

‘Spitfires and Polished Metal’ should have a number of pics of it under restoration at Audley End.

Thats a very expensive book to obtain these days.

As MV293 was completed in August 1992 there would not be much to be seen of it in 1988 in terms of restoration work. As Bruce said, NH799 was done at Audely End and photos of TB863 (G-CDAN), in primer prior to first flight, are fairly common due to it being out on the line in the July 1988 Spitfire Anniversary Airshow. I have even got some myself!

Not much was done on NH799 at Duxford – it was mostly stored there.

‘Spitfires and Polished Metal’ should have a number of pics of it under restoration at Audley End.

6 months from arrival at Audley to first flight – that was hard work! (and the reason why you wont see many pics of it under restoration; it happened very quickly!)

Bruce