The Spitfires down a Australian Mine Story gets a Reprise

did you know that it costs more to have a Spitfire rebuilt from scratch to fly than it does to by one thats already been flying for a while !!!!!!!

that explains the 6M price tag:

Current market price 2M, price to build one from scratch 3M, cost to dig lots of holes all over Oakey looking for a mine and to find the data plate 1M = 6M

smiles

Mark Pilkington

did you know that it costs more to have a Spitfire rebuilt from scratch to fly than it does to by one thats already been flying for a while !!!!!!!

So if a flying Spit is worth 2 million, and one in a buried crate is worth 6 million… can somebody lend me 2 million? I promise to give you back 3 million once I’ve buried it and flogged the location to an idiot.

Boxed aircraft.

Just out of interest my grandfather owned a company in WW11 which transported aircraft from 27 MU Fradley to Liverpool docks. Mainly Hurricanes and Airacobras and others. They were all boxed, they also collected some crashed aircraft for either salvage of spare or repair. They also made gun turrets in Burton and other things which they took to the aircraft factories.

tremors in Oakey

Hey Old Spitty

heard rumours of earth tremors in Oakey that have turned out to be 22 Forum members with shovels looking for buried Spitfires.But that they are just dumping all the other aircraft they find on the surface as they dont want them !!!!

They were eventually bought by a Sydney scrap dealer who built a smelter on the site

Thought it was an Adelaide company.Will check up on that.

I would look through their records first.

Good luck with that! I know of an aircraft on display at their museum In Hatzerim. They deny having it!:rolleyes:

In February 1946 more than 550 planes from all over the world were stored at Oakey waiting to be scrapped, including 50 Mustangs, 240 Kittyhawks and 225 Spitfires.

They were eventually bought by a Sydney scrap dealer who built a smelter on the site.

Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/228717/Race-to-uncover-6m-Spitfire-hidden-in-crateRace-to-uncover-6m-Spitfire-hidden-in-crate#ixzz1F39sEp73

…..

His research has shown discrepancies between the number of planes disposed of and those that were on the base at the end of the war.

Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/228717/Race-to-uncover-6m-Spitfire-hidden-in-crateRace-to-uncover-6m-Spitfire-hidden-in-crate#ixzz1F3A3i2nZ

Wasn’t 1946-50 the era when lots of aircraft “from various sources, some unknown”, including spitfires, were showing up in Israel?

I would look through their records first.

Dual ID

Spits?? you mean you guys have pulled that rebuilt complete and finished one apart? and that all that is left now is a forward cockpit section???

(thats what they did to complete Spitfires at Oakey years ago too, are you recreating local history?)

smiles

Mark Pilkington

Here,s the rest…And no even though Bill has helped us out immensely with parts it,s not the same one…We started off with nothing and have most of it left.

Yes, that’s about what I’m hearing, and not for the cream of the crop either.

So with probably + £1 million to find for the rebuild to flying condition, plus the interest on that money until it sells added to the costs of the recovery it’s not looking that much of an earner?

Moggy

Quote:
Local residents Lester Resinger and Bill Martin have rebuilt a Spitfire using parts found around the airfield. The finished aircraft is displayed in the Oakey Aviation Museum

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story..

Spits?? you mean you guys have pulled that rebuilt complete and finished one apart? and that all that is left now is a forward cockpit section???

(thats what they did to complete Spitfires at Oakey years ago too, are you recreating local history?)

smiles

Mark Pilkington

Perhaps they’ll dig so deep, they’ll pop out at Coningsby and nick one from there…………..

Mate, do think a team of convicts would burrow through and nick something from the Mother Country?? Shame. :diablo:

[And I didn’t even mention UK knocking off Mk VIII MV154 years ago and creeping out under the veil of darkness. And now it’s in Germany!!]

I am not Bruce – but for an up to date figure – double the above!

Yes, that’s about what I’m hearing, and not for the cream of the crop either.

Perhaps they’ll dig so deep, they’ll pop out at Coningsby and nick one from there…………..

I am not Bruce – but for an up to date figure – double the above!

Add on all the legal arguments,solicitors bills,lawsuits and anything else that suddenly declares an interest.:)
Who would own it if one was found?

Time was, not so long back when they struggled to reach £1,000,000 in flying condition.

What’s the going rate at the moment Bruce?

Moggy

I am not Bruce – but for an up to date figure – double the above!

Dont forget guys down in the colonies now .They have found a new use for all those digging skills learnt over the years soak aways for all that water but the authorities cant tell them that they have to suggest buried treasure and aeroplanes.Saves the tax payer millions !!!!!!

Well they bl00dy well not getting ours.. 🙂

Hey dont discount it to soon those mine shafts go every where you know .

You might open up one morning to find a hole 30 feet accross a big shaft and your Spitfire on the front pages as an underground aircraft store having been found under Oakey !!!!

Being displayed by seven dwarfs and a protest by the indigenous population of Oz threatening to use it as a boomerang !!!

😀 Couldn’t Skippy find it or did Flipper get to it first and get it back through secret underwater caverns 🙂

Just a couple of finishing touches and it’ll be on it’s way to Duford to fly at Legends.

:rolleyes:

Moggy