Anyone interested in the Spitfire should read Hugh Smallwood’s excellent account of the aircraft’s history – ‘Spitfire in blue’ (Osprey – isbn: 1 85532 615 9). The story of the restoration probably answers the vast majority or questions raised here, as far as I know the aircraft hasn’t been altered in any way since it’s days with Chris Horsley/OFMC. Of the restoration, apparently the CAA apparently were not enthusiastic about leading edge fuel tanks due to the types apparent tendency to ground-loop. As for the windscreen, Lewis Deal (MD MAPS) writes in the book: ‘As far as possible we maintained external authenticity and original appearance for a Mk XI Spitfire but, after seeking advice and bearing in mind the possibility of bird-strike, we opted to fit a fighter-type armoured in place of the original Mk 1-type wrap-around screen. This may not have pleased the so-called purists, but we always took the view that safety, and not originality, was paramount’. It then goes out to mention some of the other concessions made, ie. the firewall was rebuilt using stainless steel and not the original aluminium/asbestos sandwich, the lower fire-wall skirt was also rebuilt using stainless steel, all forward hoses were manufactured using modern airliner techniques in relation to the use of flexible lines for fuel, hydraulics and pneumatics. I can confirm that PL965 does still have the characteristic deep cowling for the enlarged oil tank, and the camera ports, making it look reasonably externally authentic. The aircraft has a very well documented service history which is reproduced in Mr Smallwood’s excellent book – it may well be out of print now, but if you can get hold of a copy it’s a great read. If you can’t, get yourselves over to Breighton – it’s not that grim up north you know!
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