Spitfire SL542 Homeward bound

To ADRB Quote “Enstone 21-06-2014. Spitfire Restorers Group. “

Are you involved in the rebuild yourself if so can you tell us more about the group involved?

Regards

Jason

Hi, does anyone have contact detail for the folks with SL542 please? I may be able to help them with some bits.

I wish they would sort the roundels on MH434 too :-).

with dodgy roundels…

MH434, The Legend !

Which begs the question…what is the pinnacle of Spitfire desirability?

As has been said, the earlier the better usually. However, i think certain Spits would buck that trend. MH434 is probably the most valuable airworthy Spit in the world IMO, having seen wartime action and nothing short of a legendary career since.

Enstone 21-06-2014. Spitfire Restorers Group. [ATTACH=CONFIG]229932[/ATTACH]I was told that the wrong rivets had been used in its rebuild and these were now being replaced.

The question is purely academic as none survive, but I would think the desirability would be about the same as a late-Spitfire or a Tempest II – post-war types with available airframes that nobody has (yet) chosen to complete an airworthy restoration. Having said that, there have been Griffon Seafires airworthy in recent years.

[How would a Spiteful fare in such a desireability content. Presumably it’s rarity would be a key factor in countering the lack of interest in late mark Spitfires – but then again an airworthy 20 series Spitfire is pretty rare and that hasn’t done anything to seem to make them any more desireable.

Over the years the two seater has gone from the bottom of the Spitfire desirability scale to close to the top.

Which begs the question…what is the pinnacle of Spitfire desirability?

If it is not two seats then is it a high back? Low back? Merlin or Griffin? An attractive data plate, maybe? I might have thought history would be in there, but the requirements for airworthiness probably override any sentimentality for original parts…

Financially a two seater can earn its keep as the lack of airshows and large amount of Spits available it makes good sense.

…… years ago hardly anyone wanted a two seater !

The Nick Grace / Dick Melton modification to the canopy glazing put the aircraft in to a new perspective for many.

Ugly duckling to swan etc.

Over the years the two seater has gone from the bottom of the Spitfire desirability scale to close to the top.

Mark

Fascinating that years ago hardly anyone wanted a two seater !

Yes. Supermarine converted both high and low back Mk IX Spitfires to high back Trainers.

Mark

The drawings, tooling, patterns and fixtures are available.

Mark

Would that be a high back two seater? I assume there wasn’t a low back two seater?

The drawings, tooling, patterns and fixtures are available.

Mark

Could it be converted to a 2 seater if the owner wanted. Especially with the rules changing soon on carrying passengers.

Might as well include low-back Mk.XVIII TP263 pretending to be a high-back Mk.XIV ‘NH649’ at Overloon

So, how many low-backs have been converted to date: RW382, TE184, TE392, TD135. Any others?
Maybe it’s time to include the low-back XVI’s in the endangered species :highly_amused:?

Great news – so long as they don’t decide to make it a high-back!

Ah, there is word that the proud new owner quite likes high-backs…

His money, his choice surely.