Thai Spitfire XIV (& Bearcat)

Spitfire International

Am I right in saying that this book does not include current Spitfires residing in the U.K. as it is only concerned with exported aeroplanes?

This is a fantastic book detailing in great depth the ‘non RAF’ use of the Spitfire from 1939 to date. It is very well illustrated. It crosses over and notates surviving Spitfires but is not the complete story on survivors and does not cover the UK military.

Sales have lagged, yet most would have thought this was going to be a sure-fire winner.

Mark

Cees,

As mentioned in an earlier post on this thread.

“PS836, the Mk XIX formerly at Chiang Mai, has been given a static restoration by Thai Airways Engineering staff and whilst not completed it is now in the Museum hangars.”

Mark

Oops, missed it.

Thanks Mark

Cees

A much more recent publication is…..

Spitfire International Published by Air Britain 2002 – ISBN 0-85130-250-5

It lists the publicly known survivors worldwide with many photos and histories.

Am I right in saying that this book does not include current Spitfires residing in the U.K. as it is only concerned with exported aeroplanes?

Mark,What happened to it (and the wing lying behind you)?Cees

Cees,

As mentioned in an earlier post on this thread.

“PS836, the Mk XIX formerly at Chiang Mai, has been given a static restoration by Thai Airways Engineering staff and whilst not completed it is now in the Museum hangars.”

Mark

At the 1999 Oshkosh airshaw I saw a man who brought a Spitfire from Buma, to be restored.

That’ll be David Gouldsmith.

The aircraft was ML119/UB441 and is now ‘in line’ in the UK.

Certainly a flyer for the future.

Mark

At the 1999 Oshkosh airshaw I saw a man who brought a Spitfire from Buma, to be restored.
This Spit was sold to Burma by Israel in the late 50’s.
Anyone knowa what happened to it, or to any other ex-Iaraly Spitfire in Burma?

Mark,

What happened to it (and the wing lying behind you)?

Cees

Michael row the boat ashore.

Here are a couple of shots of PR.XIX PS836 at Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand in March 1980.

At that time it was just in the playground of a technically orientated school (no pun intended).

Although decrepit, it provided some very useful internal parts for one of the ‘Indian’ restorations in the UK.

Mark

Yes, its called “Spitfire Survivors around The World”, fantastic book. Problem is it is now about 17 years old and the majority of the listings are well out of date. I am sure there would be a market for an up to date edition.

A much more recent publication is…..

Spitfire International Published by Air Britain 2002 – ISBN 0-85130-250-5

It lists the publicly known survivors worldwide with many photos and histories.

First question:

May I just remove this wing fillet panel to inspect the oversize wing bolt plate? Ah! SM914… perfect.

Second question:
May I shut this hangar door to reduce the contrast?

Third question:
Would you have a ladder I may use?

Thank you.

Don Muang March 1980.

Mark

Isn’t one of the Bearcats under restoration at Chino an ex-Thai Bearcat? There were two partially restored F8Fs there a couple years back – the second was the Freidkin plane, now finished in USN Reserve colors.

Great book (also the one about preserved Spits in the UK which was published before this one), but as already mentioned it is time for an updated copy as I think the number of Spits have increased dramatically the last decade.

Cees

Spitfire Survivors Round the World
Riley, Gordon & Trant, Graham
1984 and 1986

Copies available on http://www.abebooks.com from British and Australian used book stores.

Dennis

These “Before” photographs are all gems. Anyone ever toyed around with the idea of a ‘Spitfire Relics Worldwide’ book? I would certainly buy one!

Yes, its called “Spitfire Survivors around The World”, fantastic book. Problem is it is now about 17 years old and the majority of the listings are well out of date. I am sure there would be a market for an up to date edition.

These “Before” photographs are all gems. Anyone ever toyed around with the idea of a ‘Spitfire Relics Worldwide’ book? I would certainly buy one!

Yes, that’s what I thought.

About those trestles, a lot of museums place their aircrafts on such jacks as to preserve the tyres. Also it allows them not to loose time in inflating all the tyres every year I guess.

High Res

Any chance of a high-res copy of the photo? I have a couple of poor ones taken from the other side.

Steve,

File size is 15.5Mb each for publishing quality.

Are you up for that or shall I burn them on to a disc?

Mark

Rubber longevity in Asia.

I knew it!

Guys, why do the tyres on those two Spits (the XIV and the XIX) appear to be of the low-profile variety, as found on Honda Civics?

Olivier,

On the silver XIV the the wheels are original 12″ but the tyres are dummies, probably adapted from a motor vehicle. In all shots going back 25 years the aircraft is always on light trestle jacks, I suspect because they can’t inflate the tyres. Specific inner tubes/valves are required for the Spitfire.

On the camouflaged XIX, both the wheels and tyres are non Spitfire.

Mark

I knew it!

Guys, why do the tyres on those two Spits (the XIV and the XIX) appear to be of the low-profile variety, as found on Honda Civics?

It’s in Thai AF scheme; can’t read what it says under the tail though.