I was at the Last Last Lightning Show in 1987 with the 45Sqn/TWCU Tornado as ground crew. We had a great time at the place, (nice sign outside the 5 Sqn line-hut “Thru these doors….”- looked good on our crewroom wall !) but how sad to see it in this state now, not unlike the current use of our own old base at Honington. And the Lightning stuck outside after all the effort made to fly it in from Shawbury, the guys involved must be gutted to have to face this situation. No taxi way and hangars presumably priced beyond their reach and probably stuffed with grain. Hats of to you for not throwing in the towel in the face of such odds. If only we had that sort of dedication to historical artifacts at the higher levels of the museum at DX. 🙁

Are you sure? My records show that there never was a PL944 built…. or was there 😉 Maybe PL344 isn’t right either….perhaps that would have been more accurate being PL944…..if you know what I mean!

Still I did warn you on that other thread a few weeks ago…..and it still managed to catch some real experts out I believe 🙂

nice restoration but i was hoping to see this one in it’s raaf markings so i’m a little disapointed but well done to all involved
paul

The owner was aware of the original markings and the wealth of photographs of it in service. He didn’t like the Australian scheme so when the time came for it to go into paint he opted for a desert cammo one to represent a vokes filter equipped machine in the North African theatre of operations. This scheme has subsequently been refined and the aircraft is painted to represent a machine of 249 Sqn RAF based in Malta in 1942/43 as flown by Flt Sqt Jack Hughes RCAF. I did the markings to the wartime photograph so I can assure you that the font on the codes is correct and the saint artwork is authentic to the original machine which was JK879. I hope this clears up a few points and serves to remind people of the late Spencer Flacks legendary word regarding Spitfires and their paint-schemes.
“When you have one you can paint it whatever colour YOU want”
Lets just enjoy seeing an unusual addition to the sky and be grateful for enthusiastic individuals whose deep pockets enable us to see these artifacts in the air. 🙂

Anyone know what IWM’s plans are for the latest spitfire FSM??[/QUOTE]

It’s not the property of IWM at all. The work is being carried out by ARC for an overseas client. I notice no-one is moaning about any “colour or roundel innaccuracies”……..yet! Mind you they’ll be some head scratching at the serial number 😉

Perhaps I might have forgotten to mention that some of ours : TA805, RN201, SM845, TD248, IAC161, JG891 might also be involved in the Goodwood thing…..
Maybe Sunday is looking the better option for DX.
However, who needs Spitfires when you have the laughable USAF F15 pair flypast on the programme…………..I wonder just which airfield they will fly-past this time, funny how they can always find Lakenheath but Duxford remains a mystery to them. Must be all that talk of “Area 51” that confuses them 😉

JG891 should just make it we hope, though it might be static. RW386 should be out there as well but will definately be on the ground as the prop won’t be ready in time. Its hoped we can fit a static prop to make it look more appealling to the eye! SM845, RN201,TD248, PT462, IAC161 and the new ex-Dutch one are all coming from our side of things. TA805 should also be present from its current location at North Weald.
I hope that helps 🙂

Crash is rather dramatic I think. It was more what they politely term a “Heavy Landing”. Very heavy by the look of it, I wouldn’t expect to see it flying for a while.