Spitfire 18 SM969

In the 2001 Flypast Spitfire add-on, there is a pic of ‘969 about to lift off – great photo.

It is featured in the ’92 Biggin Hill video, which I recently picked up on ebay and was watching last night…..

Possibly Biggin Hill

Yup. Biggin Hill, 1992.

Mark

Possibly Biggin Hill

I thought I had seen that Spit before.
Pic taken some where, some time :confused:
(I am sure some body will ID the location)

Just dug out this shot of SM969 during restoration at Blackbushe early/mid 1980s.

Didn’t the 91 Cranfield Show, at which SM969 appeared, have a Reno-style air race for warbirds along with the Formula one racers?
Perhaps that was the reason for it’s presence being something a “bit different”.

I’m pretty sure it is still in that building there, Wrecks & Relics list it there as stored from september 03.

Thanks for that, 92fis. Presume she’s been locked away since?

This is the picture i saw of the spitfire, i believe it was taken in 2003 and shows it being pushed inside a building in the Great Yarmouth area. Sorry about the picture quality as i don’t have a scanner.

Hmm talking about destruction of capital

Cees

So if they are finally extracted from the containers, they would need to be restored again?

Cees

Yes.

Some would argue the MkXVIII was never properly restored in the first place it just went through an IRAN.

So if they are finally extracted from the containers, they would need to be restored again? As it has been some years since PL983 was sold and refurbished. Damp can be a nasty thing.

Cees

Hi Bentwingbomber,
You’re quite right,the WoGB airframes were NOT inhibited before storage,I’ve just had a whisper in my ear from another forumite to that effect and I stand corrected. Sorry for the confusion. 🙂

Thanks for the pics. It’d be interesting to hear how Andy compares the Mk18 to his usual mount.

Rod Dean flew the Bearcat

As I understand it,the former WoGB airframes were carefully dismantled and inhibited for long term storage.IIRC,when the PR.XI was sold and re-activated in 2000 she was found to be in pretty much spotless condition,save some moisture in her wooden prop blades which were replaced.
I stand corrected on ‘969’s public appearances,glad she was seen out and about more than once,and good to hear that there may be some developments in the near future.

The airframes were NOT inhibited.

I know this as a Fact.

Thanks for the pics. It’d be interesting to hear how Andy compares the Mk18 to his usual mount.

Here’s a couple more of the Spit XVIII at Cranfield in ’91 as well as one of the Bearcat

Andy Sephton was the pilot of the XVIII.

Not sure about the Bearcat and Wildcat. I think Chris Bevan flew several WoGB aircraft around that time so he may be one of the pilots

As I understand it,the former WoGB airframes were carefully dismantled and inhibited for long term storage.IIRC,when the PR.XI was sold and re-activated in 2000 she was found to be in pretty much spotless condition,save some moisture in her wooden prop blades which were replaced.
I stand corrected on ‘969’s public appearances,glad she was seen out and about more than once,and good to hear that there may be some developments in the near future.

Is she for sale, or is she heading over to Greenham Common, for whatever is going on there?

Who would want to buy it?

Good basis for a restoration maybe.

If the price was right.

If you had to have a Spit XVIII, I’d go and talk to HFL.

As we have said many times before,the Arnold collection were dismantled and crated,not dismantled, inhibited,and packed for long term storage.

There is a massive difference.