Spitfire on A15

The picture reminds mind of how very many years ago I was finishing off my second ever model, an Airfix Beaufighter, when I noticed that one of the fin flashes was the wrong way round on the transfers sheet, so I had to apply it blue part to the front. (I think I soon became a bit more adaptable).:)

I’m afraid the airfix transfers were accurate, you just needed to rotate it 180 degrees to have it the right way up! (I remember this quandry too!!)

I can’t recall off-hand, but I thought the larger tail was to combat the loss of side area when the cut-down fuselage was adopted on the 22?

The 21 was not a great aeroplane to fly to begin with, but Supermarine set about a lot of mods to the controls to make it satisfactory.

Supermarine changed the tail unit during Mk. 22 production to that from the Spiteful (much larger surfaces), perhaps that was why?

One of the Alfred Price Spitfire books has a flight test report on the F.21 – it doesnt paint a glowing picture of the type.

Someone said this mark had bad handling characteristics. Is this true?

Let us hope it is the correct one.

J-XU indeed. 😮

Mark

The picture reminds mind of how very many years ago I was finishing off my second ever model, an Airfix Beaufighter, when I noticed that one of the fin flashes was the wrong way round on the transfers sheet, so I had to apply it blue part to the front. (I think I soon became a bit more adaptable).:)

This (so far) has been the only Spit ive ever sat in, many years ago in the back of the hangar at Wittering, and i wasnt really suprised that with ny arms folded I only had about an inch of free space either side of my elbows! Glad to see its still in good condition. I knew a new Phoon Sqn was on the cards, with the sheer number of frames currently with the Canopeners (seemingly 24 were reported not that long ago). 1 Sqn was suggested amongst others, esp 43 or 111 because of their long association with the base but hadnt seen any confirmation that No 1 had been chosen, tacit or otherwise until now.

Personally, i’d have loved 74 to be re born – the prospect of a Phoon in Tiger stripes…. sigh… sorry but I didnt consider the Hawk to be ‘Tiger’ material.

Still I have no doubt that a corner of a hangar will be clean and waiting on her arrival, and anyone daft enough to suggest she be sat outside will find themselves on a permanent posting to the Falklands counting penguins.

Lincoln 7,

I know this question is getting very close to a long debated topic with entrenched viewpoints (eg the current data-plate rebuild “discussion”), but would it cost more to put a Spitfire such as LA255 which is currently essentially a complete airframe back into the air, or one which starts as a lump of twisted metal excavated from a crash-site? Either way theoretically (as she is clearly not up for sale), would the current value of a Spitfire such as LA255 be in the complete airframe (as is), in its historical heritage and connections, or in the potential as a rebuild project with proven provenance? Just wondering, ….. if indeed the question is answerable!

Hello Jim. You might almost have seen it on the A15 yourself! I was very pleased to do so. Thanks to everyone for all the interesting comments it has provoked!

pagen01.

James, it may never be a flyer, as the cost of a total restoration would be too costly, unless Lottery funding, a generous doner, or some Company, would be kind enough to foot the bill. Aircraft such as this, belong in the air, not as a static show piece, but thats just my opinion.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Given that there is an appetite to fly any Spitfire with ‘Supermarine’ in the title, is there a reason why this one hasn’t been made a flyer?

I’ve been told that the receipt that 1 Sqn paid for their Spit still exists but there was a worry that whey they were disbanded last year someone higher up the chain might try to get a few bob for it. Saw it last year stripped down and glad it’s returning to the Squadron.

Now the question is will it be a new scheme or the same as the old one?

Let us hope it is the correct one.

J-XU indeed. 😮

Mark

I’ve been told that the receipt that 1 Sqn paid for their Spit still exists but there was a worry that whey they were disbanded last year someone higher up the chain might try to get a few bob for it. Saw it last year stripped down and glad it’s returning to the Squadron.

Now the question is will it be a new scheme or the same as the old one?

Ill-informed BBMF poster, it won’t be without shelter or anything like that.

More likely to be kept inside.

No. 1 Squadron is reforming at Leuchars in September. The Squadron is then I believe scheduled to move to Lossiemouth on the closure of Leuchars.
The aircraft has always been stated as the property of the association.

It depends who you talk to!

Well it always used to be their gate guardian but was hangared as such and wheeled out for shows, belongs to the association does it not?

Must admit that I thought Spitfires as gate guards wasn’t vogueish anymore.
Also, isn’t Leuchars still slated to close, inspite of 6 Sqdn Typhoons move there?

Gate Guardian it was said on BBMF Facebook. Under shelter I hope? Not that keen on real Spits being gate guardians anywho.