The Spitfire Society made a return visit to Historic Flying Ltd at Duxford.
Firstly many thanks to Peter Wesson fot taking the time to organise it and for Mark from HFL for giving a detailed insight into the restoration work currently being undertaken.
There was a good attendance including two former Spitfire pilots. One of whom flew PV202 (now IAC161) during the war. Pictured is Bert Harman in front of the former 33 Sqn Spitfire he flew in 1944
By: merlin70 - 18th September 2004 at 21:10
HFL very kindly secured a few ladders in convenient places. It would have been rude not to use them.
By: met24 - 18th September 2004 at 19:49
Thanks for inviting me along Merlin … it was a nice change from seeing the things flying! My thanks also to Peter and everybody at HFL.
I hope I’m as ‘with-it’ as Bert is when I’m that old. Given a power supply and half a chance he’d have had that gun camera running!
By: Stieglitz - 18th September 2004 at 19:41
Thanks for that update about IAC161. Its also nice to see the progress on the other planes! 😎
Thanks,
J.V.
By: Papa Lima - 18th September 2004 at 19:26
Looks like MikeJ with his new camera there, handling it like a pro already!
By: von Perthes - 18th September 2004 at 19:24
Why is the person in the third photo wearing a red box over their head???
By: Bradburger - 18th September 2004 at 18:39
Many thanks for sharing these pictures Merlin.
Nice to see inside the HFL compond again.
Cheers
Paul
By: merlin70 - 18th September 2004 at 18:26
A few Forum members were there too. A great visit. Cheers Martin, Andy and Mike. It was good to meet up again.
Final shot shows Bert Harman talking to Peter Wesson about the gun camera that Bert has in the box.
By: merlin70 - 18th September 2004 at 18:20
At the other end of the hangar, Peter Monks Mk IX TA805 is slowly progressing.
And a few cockpit shots.
TA805, TD248, IAC161.
By: merlin70 - 18th September 2004 at 18:14
Selection of shots from around the hangar.
Wings of JG891 underconstruction, followed by UB425’s wings, then inside UB425 can be seen the ‘natural’ state she is in.
By: merlin70 - 18th September 2004 at 18:08
HFL’s Spits
IAC161 Mk IX Tr, TD248 Mk XVI, JG891 Mk V and UB425 Mk IX were present. The other a/c were away at airshows.
IAC161 awaits the return of her engine block from the USA. It is hoped that she will be airbourne within 1 to 3 months.
JG891 V has now left the fuselage jig. Her engine is off site being constructed form 3 merlins. The wings are in the jig and progressing well and will take a total of a year to complete. The main spars are finished. Provided no major snags occur she will be airworthy in about a year.
UB425 still sits awaiting her turn for some attention. She will possibly be configured as a two seater although no final decision has been made. A new fin has been fabricated for her in place of the Harvard unit that she sported whilst in Burma. A complete new engine is required as that along with the systems had been stripped out whilst on display in Burma.
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September 18, 2004 at 5:49 pm