That was Cliff’s first outing in a Mk1 Spitfire. Having previously flown the MkII, V, IX, PRXI, XIV, XVI, XVIII and PRXIX he only needs the VIII to complete the set (of airworthy Spitfire types). Quite an achievement and I can’t think of anyone else that has the same set?

That’s quite impressive!

And congratulations to him on adding the MKI to his logbook.

(Maybe it can be arranged for him to fly the Max Alpha VIII whilst it’s over for Legends!)

I wonder if anyone from Shepherd Neame are reading this, because if he does get to fly the MKVIII, I think an indefinite supply of ‘Spitfire’ is in order!

Cheers

Paul

Glad to hear that both pilot and machine made it back on terra firma in one piece.

A couple more pictures of the landing can be seen hear: –

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/registration.php?p=G-BWUE

Cheers

Paul

Fantastic news!

Congratulations to all involved in the project over the years.

Cheers

Paul

Continuing the theme of MH434 and it’s sticky-out bits…

Back in the day 1995 etc, was it really that long ago, Airframe Assemblies on the Isle of Wight rebuilt the wings, fitted new main spars etc.
Mark Hanna requested that 434 should be a bit more ‘manly’, seems he had seen a photo with the a/c with extended cannon barrel fairings.
Thus suitable items some 12″ longer were designed / stressed, manufactured and fitted, to make 434 stand out from the crowd!

Thanks for the info chumpy.

As you may know, not long after OFMC acquired 434 and had her repainted, it would appear that they fitted the shorter ‘e’ wing or ‘e’ armament shrouds (the later type), but not the extension casting, as fitted to the early MK IXs, like 434. (As Mark12 points out and his pictures show, these were clearly shortened from their original length).

Interestingly, when in service with the Dutch, these later ‘e’ type shrouds were fitted to the extension, so I guess it was during this period that Mark saw the pictures from.

Of course, when originally built, it would have had the tapered shrouds (checkout the Bill Burge pictures taken of her while with 222 Sqn at Hornchurch).

This type can be seen today on MK732 and PV270.

Cheers

Paul

(EDIT: – Just checked, and these were fitted in May 1965, so it may well have had them prior to this)

Paul

Thanks Mark.

Should answer all of Rich’s questions! 😮

Cheers Paul, what has thrown me is a photo of her as OO-ARA of Cogea she has the slim type in the photo, another thought, did she have the larger wheel blisters on the top surface ?

And there’s me only thinking of cannon blisters! 😮

Cheers

Paul

Rich,

I think you’ll find it didn’t!

I believe they were removed when the 27 imp gallon gun bay tanks were fitted, after it was acquired by Tim Davies.

(EDIT: – Just checked, and these were fitted in May 1965, so it may well have had them prior to this)

But all the pictures I’ve seen when under his ownership, it didn’t have any. They were only fitted again after 434 had it’s major overhaul during 1993 – 1995.

Up to it’s time with the Belgians, it had the later ‘slim’ type.

Cheers

Paul

Very nice!

Cheers

Paul

Mid Air Squadron Hunter & Canberra heading roughly in the direction of Shoreham, en route to Folkstone, about 2.40 PM.

Hunter came back again about 3.10 on it’s own.

Shortly after, a Spitfire IX , possibly either the Grace’s or RW382 from Biggin (couldn’t make out which, but the call sign was India X-Ray), heading south west not long after.

Cheers

Paul