Very nice find; did they (Sweden) use the mkIX?

From an engineering point of view there are often many places of strength and integrity to be found on A/C that can be used for this purpose, that clearly were never their intended use; a big deal was made re the suspension of the mk I Spitfire in Lambeth on just the same tack, but it is hung from the pintles and as such the load is broadly similar to that it was designed for; I suspect preservationists as a bunch, dislike cutting holes for wires or steel work, and indeed removal of heavy items (engines, undercarriage etc) and the often associated loss of these items due to their separation.

RJ Mitchell was a flyer, on one occasion flying to Bristol the plane developed a mechanical fault and was forced to come down at Middle wallop; he phoned Supermarine and told them what had happened, and they were to let his wife know he was alright,but the message his wife got was “your husband’s had an accident, and come down wallop!”

“so if I take a picture of a counterfeit Hurricane and post it some one will nip around and nick it?”

Yes that’s right…..

Trumper, yes you are probably right if someone wants something they will probably get it; at the time I believe they were convinced that the item was stolen to order, and the photos were used to set a value of said item prior to it’s theft; Hendon has a rigid “do not touch” policy, Duxford also has the same, (but not quite as rigidly enforced) but the AAM (at Duxford) doesn’t, who is right?

“I opine for keeping the team, but in a smaller format”.

The Red Arrow?

I would say that we are paying tribute to a unique piece of precision low flying, and to the courage of those that flew the dams mission, not celebrating the destruction, or the carnage.

The recent mention here that the place was “chock a-block” (did I spell that correctly?..it’s not a term we use here) when the two Lancs flew over the dams.

Granted, I know the dams were used by 617 Squadron during training, but reenacting the raid which cost the RAF rather dearly and claimed the lives of 1600 primarily civilians…including 1000 forced-labor allied prisoners…is getting near the mark in my opinion.
Rather like the “atom bomb” airshow act or the tongue in check suggestion of the Lancs doing a victory lap of Germany.
And lest you think I’m picking on the RAF or insulting the courage of 617 squadron, I’d say the same thing if someone wanted to fly a B-24 over an oil refinery to reenact Ploesti or have a Swordfish make a run at warships to reenact the Channel dash.

Just me turning into an old peacenik I guess….:)

When I first looked at buying a kit from the then Australian manufacturer they were about £25k! albeit over 10 years ago, the last time I looked they were about £50k, now being made in the USA (I believe) with a choice of engines including the Jabiru 6cyl which doesn’t sound much like a Merlin granted, but does sound a bit like a Griffon…..with a couple of plug leads off……. still a fine sight in the air and I wouldn’t mind one, but a lot of work to build.