Pilot confirmed to me  today as J R. 

It is universal knowledge within the inner historic community. 

I understand your reservations,  but there are valid reasons for the process, mainly that having the identity of an aircraft, and some components ( slim but robust provenance) faciltates the process to count as a rebuild in the eyes of the CAA, as opposed to a new build. The different regulatory regime and added costs of the latter classification might well preclude such projects ever getting underway.

Spitfire AB910 of the RAF  memorial flight is a stalwart of the display scene and has been for 50 years. whereas Spitfire EN570 soon to emerge from Biggin Hill is the DNA of an excavated wreck, and a few components are included in the new-build airframe.

The essential point is that there is no deception,  one is the Spitfire it always was, and one is mainly new components, but connected to, and perpetuating the identitiy and the story of an airframe once considered lost. 

If everyone knows, and everyone understands the process, I personally don’t see a downside.

Maybe you guys could find a suitable location to watch the flypast together,  and if there is time, maybe have a punch-up as well !

”They are ALL Hercules”  (Thwack !)   

” (Oooof! )  No , they have only been in service 33 years. I am not even going to look!” 

Etc, Etc 

E3x C-130J Hercules Flypasts – 14th June 2023:

01 • 10:00 – Depart RAF Brize Norton
02 • 10:25 – National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas
03 • 10:34 – RAF Cosford
04 • 11:22 – RAF Valley
05 • 11:48 – FS Aldergrove
06 • 12:51 – RAF Lossiemouth (with Typhoon escort)
07 • 14:08 – RAF Leeming
08 • 14:10 – RAF Topcliffe
09 • 14:23 – Beverley
10 • 14:35 – RAF Waddington
11 • 14:38 – RAF College Cranwell
12 • 14:58 – Cambridge Airport
13 • 15:04 – RAF Mildenhall
14 • 15:15 – Colchester Garrison
15 • 16:22 – MOD Boscombe Down
16 • 16:25 – Salisbury Plain (West Down Camp)
17 • 16:32 – MOD Lyneham
18 • 16:36 – Royal Wootton Bassett
19 • 16:39 – Defence Academy of the UK, Shrivenham
20 • 16:43 – Dalton Barracks, Abingdon
21 • 16:51 – RAF Halton
22 • 16:55 – RAF High Wycombe
23 • 17:05 – RAF Brize Norton 

5 Royal Netherlands Air Force Apaches  and a following flight of 4 Chinooks have just passed over Rickmansworth, heading into Northolt for fuel. 

They are back from the  14 day NATO excercise at Carlisle, 

9.40  am Broussard over Little Chalfont heading west.   Could not see the reg, but probably G-HOUR ( Bremont watches) which is based at White Waltham.