Spitfire RM689

or even at RR. SM520 is looked after by John & the lads at RR.

Nope, gone to Delta Jets for maintenance now, so no longer looked after by them I believe.

Tintriangle, I think the MKXIX is at duxford, possably at HFL. If you sawRM689 back in july/aug i would be suprised if both wings were on it !! or even at RR. SM520 is looked after by John & the lads at RR.

Steve

I went on a short trip in a PA28 from Filton this summer (July-August, IIRC) with a university friend who has a PPL. We were allowed to take a peek into the RR hangar, and I had a good look at RM689. Now, I’m no expert on restoration, but I’d say she’s well over 50% of the way there. The fuselage and wings were primed and in jigs, and the engine was in the fuselage. Major sub-assemblies like the prop, u/c etc appeared to be overhauled and ready to go back in. It appeared that the major work was putting electrical and hydraluic systems back in, and re-assembly of the cockpit. Curiously, I didn’t see the Mk. 19, but the two-seater SM520 was there too along with a P-51D.

🙂 A good choice ,well done 🙂

🙂 So which good cause did the £20-00 go to,or will go to.:)

Help for Heroes.

It went…the week after it flew. 🙂

Mark

🙂 So which good cause did the £20-00 go to,or will go to.:)

I believe PS853 have gone for some TLC – any idea on how long she will be out of the sky for?

Also any news on RM689? Does the fact that PS853 going in for work mean that the XIV will be available in 2011?

thanks!

It’s always useful to try the search function first: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=96561

I tried, I thought the posts were a little dated.

Has ‘853 still got it’s wing problems? Lack of spares, is that right?

We are talking about PS853?

Flying this year?

Er……ok,…..If you say so.

Really Mark? ………………. Go on, i’m a gambling man, fancy a bet? say a tenner to “help for heroes” that it will fly this year…….

PS853. Make it £20 for a good cause and you are on. 🙂

Mark

Really Mark? ………………. Go on, i’m a gambling man, fancy a bet? say a tenner to “help for heroes” that it will fly this year…….

. The MK19 is on it’s annual and is being reassembled for it’s flight test.

I think that might be a touch premature.

Mark

Almost right, PS853 was sold on to fund the Hurri rebuild, but to Euan English and later sold after his death by his widow to Rolls Royce to replace the MK14.

The MK14 is currently in the stages of rebuild they have one of the wings back now I believe and the fuselage. The MK19 is on it’s annual and is being reassembled for it’s flight test.

It’s always useful to try the search function first: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=96561

hi,

I dont know about names but… as i remember the person in the cockpit is a mechanic who was working in the hangar there at RAE Farnborough.

I did have another close photo showing him sat in the cockpit but i gave it to him.

Glad that the photos are of interest.

Regards and hope you are all having a good Christmas

DesertBlooms

Photo 3… is that the late Dave Moore in the cockpit.?

I was at a few airshows as a young boy at that time too, and I can’t imagine how I would have felt if I had seen something like that in real life.

I was at woodford as a young lad when 689 sadly crashed and its something that ill never forget.

I can only imagine what kind a restoration job has been done to bring it this far and I think the hard work and the sight of her flying again will be a fitting memorial to the pilot.

Good luck to anyone involved,

MH

Those 1986 pictures are really interesting to see. Thank you.

Richard ,RM689 is a MKXIV not a MKIX.

Steve

Actually I know that… that was my confusion, as I hadn’t remembered there being more than one spitfire at Farnborough in ’86. I suppose it could have been on a different day of course, but I seem to remember there was only one public day that season.

Cheers,
Richard