This was posted over on WIX
https://www.royalhorseaviation.com
A full scale re-engineered Spitfire to be powered by a Merlin, turbine or new V-12.
The illustrations of the available two seater are nice, a bit more elegant than most “real” two seaters. It might make a good flight experience machine, if people are willing to spend money fly in something that looks like a Spitfire but isn’t. Perhaps it could be used to take people up for a formation or photo flight in lieu of the helicopters currently used? Especially if powered by a turbine or the mentioned new engine, the reduced operating costs (and perhaps lower insurance) might make experience flights cheaper and thus available to more enthusiasts…a very good thing.
I hope they do well, while not a historic airframe, there might be a market for them from pilots who would like a “Spitfire” but either can’t afford one but don’t want the responsibility of owning (and risking) a 80 year old national treasure. Think of it like those hugely expensive Jaguar C and D type or Ford GT-40 replicas, which are hardly for the average driver, but something fun that will please the owner while being accurate enough to please most of the casual people who see It at displays.
Based on my experience with those cars, most average people don’t care if something is an accurate replica, to them it “is” what it looks like. Rather like most aeroplane fans still consider a Spitfire or Mustang “real” even though it’s a dataplate rebuild with scant WWII metal.
Anyone know more about the project?
By: DazDaMan - 17th September 2020 at 13:51
Anyone remember a similar turbine-powered P-51 replica from a few years back?
By: Pim205GTI - 17th September 2020 at 10:14
If they would fix the downlock mechanism on the landing gear that would solve halve of the Spitfire accidents today,
If they would change the landing gear from retracting inboard instead of outboard they would solve the other halve of accidents
By: J Boyle - 16th September 2020 at 23:50
Oracal…
Your question about how realistic it could be with a turbine was the first thing I said on WIX.
I also wonder if they’ll remedy any of the shortcomings of the original design…like the narrow gear and if they’ll have modern brakes and plumbing?
While they may not want to stray too far from the original, if that want to encourage modern pilots to fly it, some design changes to make it a bit easier to live with wouldn’t be out of place.I
Think of it like an Eagle E-Type with modern brakes, cooling, electric power steering, a modern gearbox and electrics.
By: Trolley Aux - 16th September 2020 at 20:00
“Rarity and high cost make it difficult to obtain these famous warbirds. The dream of Pieter Swart, the founder of RHA was to build a precise scale Spitfire for the modern-day aviator that would meet and exceed the original Spitfire’s safety, speed, aerobatics, and maneuverability. 8 years of combining complex design and engineering has made that dream a reality.”
There are a few projects out there ready for the backing to be built, of course they are going to be ground up and cost you a couple of million, to get this project airworthy I could see hoovering up 10 times that amount.
good luck to them but this time, I’m out.
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th September 2020 at 16:41
From their website – “a 100% complete realistic Spitfire” … “ [engines] include the GE Turboprop, Vintage V12 Merlin or RH 750 naturally aspirated V12”
Doesn’t sound that realistic.
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September 16, 2020 at 3:07 pm