Better pic…..

Hi Mikehaspey , I think I’ve seen this photo before ! Pretty sure Steve Vizard asked me the same question last week !

Steve
ps I didnt know then either !! definately not bolts from an access hole because they are staked. If material was thicker i’d say that it was the perpex light or view hole on the aft end of the tank cover!!

Its not unique – there are several like that including PT462 in Wales. The current mod was devised by Dick Melton in conjunction wth Nick Grace and first used on ML407 (although the Soviet Air Force was the first to put the concept in to action in WWII).

Hi all, another reason for using this type of canopy is that the origional bulbus one are as rare as hens teeth. We are doing a T9 at the moment to be fitted with bulbus canopy but it looks like one is going to have to be made from scratch !!! unless some one on here knows where there is one going spare !!!!

Steve

Yes Steve – I think your right – of course there is the other BMMF Mk 19 too?

Mark V , I dont know what’s happening about other BBMF XIX, Fluffy could probably tell more!! Any way getting a bit off topic here, I think a good parameter for a current list of flyers would be to pick a point at the end of the last show season and any spits flying then to be included, also any on annuals or majors as these will be returning to the skys this year , hopefully !! maybe this could sort things out ? Or just confuse it more !!

Steve

Is it possible that it is one of the planes I wrote down? (See above)

Or is that 100% not possible?

Hi Vin1, I think there is one person on this forum who will know the answer. Look out for MK12 !!

Steve

109 fuselage

Hi, the rear fuselage of a 109 is made up of skins with the frames formed on the skin its self. There are 4 such items on each side of the fuse spaced by a skin with no frame on. This is then riveted to the skins with frames on and the whole lot in joined down the centre,( top & bottom) by stringers. There are also stringers that go the full lenght of the fuse through slots cut in the frames .

Steve

Many thanks, Steve. MIA:RIP is a little outdated now, having been produced in 1998, but the chronology of recoveries to that point in time and legal interpretation still holds true. What a pity, though, that the ultimately officially undertaken operation to recover Eric Williams recently was unsuccessful…

Hi Mr Sarkar, MIA-RIP still a good read as it was then. I got my copy throught the Frontline & Aviation museum set up by Steve, Mark & john Tickner in 1998/99 . As i worked for Steve during the day restoring spitfire bits & helping at the museum in the evening because my partner Caroline ran the place on a day to day basis, seems all i did for 2 years was live in the 1940’s ! Of course a lot of the stuff in the book was well documented in displays we had there. Shall have to get a copy of “The Few”.

Steve.