TE184 Has Flown!

Thanks Mark,

That clears things up for me again. fascinating the number of resting projects that are still around.

Cheers

Cees

Was this the same aircraft that had been reported in flypast at the time as having been discovered by Lance Trading?

Fantastic pics Mark, I always love to see those recovery photographs.

Cheers

Cees

Nope.

That was RM873, a Thai Mk XIV fuselage, and is now in the UK, via NZ.

Mark

Was this the same aircraft that had been reported in flypast at the time as having been discovered by Lance Trading?

Fantastic pics Mark, I always love to see those recovery photographs.

Cheers

Cees

From Mark 12’s comment (and previous information posted on the forum), it seems likely that it was stolen and scrapped when being transported in India for export in the 70s.

EDIT: I see that it is listed as “stored at Paddock Wood” at http://www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregistry/spitfire-tp367.html. I don’t know how reliable that information is.

The Warbird registry is a a little adrift there.

I was tasked by the purchaser to prepare the aircraft for shipping and to dismantle the tail unit for fitment in to a 40 ft container in June 1991.

There were difficulties with the export paperwork and it did not finally arrive in the UK until August 1994. The aircraft had been fully paid for and the institution that sold it were fully briefed that the tail unit was to be kept safe in their agreed internal store as I departed.

In the intervening period the tail unit was ‘misappropriated’ and did not arrive in the UK. This substantially reduced the value of the whole project, the owner lost interest, and it was sold on at some considerable loss in 1995 to a French collector, where I believe it is still in store.

Up until last year I had imagined the tail was ‘acquired’ locally for its scrap value. Last year it was reported as sighted……. very, very disappointing.

In all probability, without this theft, the aircraft would be airworthy by now.

Oh, and Suede desert boots…what else?

Mark

The man from Del Monte, he say yeh

Practice for the bath-chair, Peter?

Mad Dogs and Englishmen….

Love the jaunty angle of the hat and think that the only thing missing is the suspenders on the socks:D

Also nice to see that the shoes are beige……

Whats the latest on this project?

From Mark 12’s comment (and previous information posted on the forum), it seems likely that it was stolen and scrapped when being transported in India for export in the 70s.

EDIT: I see that it is listed as “stored at Paddock Wood” at http://www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregistry/spitfire-tp367.html. I don’t know how reliable that information is.

Why when I see that photo do I think…

“Our man in Kharagpur”

TP367/HS669 Kharagpur.

Unfortunately during the period that the tail unit was removed to fit the aircraft in a container to the UK…and the paperwork being sorted, ‘somebody’ stole it!

Mark

Whats the latest on this project?

Apologies for going slightly (only ever so!) off topic, but what’s the ID of the Spitfire discovered by PPS in the galleries section? It looks like a XIV or an 18, going by the propeller hub in the first image….

TP367/HS669 Kharagpur.

Unfortunately during the period that the tail unit was removed to fit the aircraft in a container to the UK…and the paperwork being sorted, ‘somebody’ stole it!

Mark

Apologies for going slightly (only ever so!) off topic, but what’s the ID of the Spitfire discovered by PPS in the galleries section? It looks like a XIV or an 18, going by the propeller hub in the first image….

I’m leaning towards MKXIV… maybe RM694?

screengrabbed from the pps site: (please remove if I’ve transgressed the unwritten law)

Moi, wearing glasses with photochromatic lenses!

Hello Lads,

Sorry for my lack of posting, been busy trying to get the new website up to put the youtube vid & a few pics into:

http://www.personalplaneservices.com/news.html

She behaved very well and Jonathon had a considerable smile on his face after taxiing back 😉 Hopefully she’ll be airborne again next week to continue the test programme.

A decision on painting has still to be made so I’m afraid any questions about that subject can’t be answered at present but I would personally like to see ‘Jack’ Charles’ PT396 late-war scheme depicted.

Tom

Apologies for going slightly (only ever so!) off topic, but what’s the ID of the Spitfire discovered by PPS in the galleries section? It looks like a XIV or an 18, going by the propeller hub in the first image….

I rather liked the French scheme. Something different, as the ‘custodian’ had requested, and based on a ‘well known shot’, including continental italic serial number.

Mark

Hello Lads,

Sorry for my lack of posting, been busy trying to get the new website up to put the youtube vid & a few pics into:

http://www.personalplaneservices.com/news.html

She behaved very well and Jonathon had a considerable smile on his face after taxiing back 😉 Hopefully she’ll be airborne again next week to continue the test programme.

A decision on painting has still to be made so I’m afraid any questions about that subject can’t be answered at present but I would personally like to see ‘Jack’ Charles’ PT396 late-war scheme depicted.

Tom

So long as somebody does!

RW386, surely?

I also distinctly recall reading that ‘382 is to be rebuilt as a high-back….

I think Bruce meant RW 382, i know what he was getting at !!

Steve

RW382??

😉

Bruce

RW386, surely?

I also distinctly recall reading that ‘382 is to be rebuilt as a high-back….

RW382??

😉

Bruce

Point taken Bruce , but customer is always right (so they say) !!!

Steve

Didnt look like Jonathon Whaley !! Yes Tony AA worked on the wings. We removed the tanks. She was built as a low back & should have been left that way. Not enough low backs flying !!!

Steve

Agree on both the pilot (actually looked like Nick Grey to me) & there being not enough low back Spits!

Cheers

Paul

good stuff Steve