Spitfire PR XI Question

PL983 was the other flyable PR.XI, but wasn’t flying at all during most of the 1990s. She was boxed up and stored along with another Spit in about 1992. She was restored to fly by Martin Sargeant and flew again in, what, 1999? She was flying up until an engine failure/fatal crash at Rouen in 2001.

Thanks for that Daz, I was sure I’d seen photos but wasn’t aware of the crash.

There’s also one in Norway, I believe!

I’ve just been reading this article about the fantastic restoration of PL965 in which she is said to be a “Unique Survivor”. I am sure that I have seen pictures taken in the 90’s at Dux of 2 flying PR XI’s so my question is (Well, there 2 really): Am I going mad? and if not, What happened to 2nd Spitfire?

All the best,

Rob

PL983 was the other flyable PR.XI, but wasn’t flying at all during most of the 1990s. She was boxed up and stored along with another Spit in about 1992. She was restored to fly by Martin Sargeant and flew again in, what, 1999? She was flying up until an engine failure/fatal crash at Rouen in 2001.

*mine* 🙂

That is one beautiful aircraft,,

I think “Unique Survivor” refers to the fact that 965 is the only spit flying with her original sevice engine from 44/45

It refers to the fact that it is the only airworthy Spitfire PR.XI!

I think “Unique Survivor” refers to the fact that 965 is the only spit flying with her original sevice engine from 44/45

Thanks guys 🙂

RAF Serial Custodian Location Status
PA908 USAF Museum Dayton, Ohio, USA Displayed
PL965 Hangar 11 Collection North Weald, UK Airworthy
PL979 Royal Norwegian Air ForceCollectionGardermoen, Norway Displayed
PL983 Propshop Limited Duxford, UK Rebuild to fly

From the boo…

Mark

There’s also one in Norway, I believe!

Excellent, Sounds promising. Thank you. 🙂

there is another one. with one of the companies at Duxford awaiting restoration,it used to be at the Shuttleworth collection