Before you all start, I know about the BAPC and the NAHSI initiative…..

Is there anywhere in the UK which provides a recognised qualification in aircraft preservation or conservation where you can get real hands on experience of restoring warbirds? By recognised qualification, I’m really referring to NVQ, GCSE, C&G, etc. I’d imagine it would have to be a full time course of at least a few weeks. I remember that such courses were run at Kissimmee when Tom Reilly was there – do we do it here?

Is there a place for such a facility – would there be sufficient demand in this ‘hobby’ of ours…?

Hi all, i dont really think a course of a few weeks would really be much use !!! Most of the people i work with in warbird restoration have done 4 or 5 year apprenticeships, so a couple of week course wouldnt even scratch the surface. Also you get people wanting to do volenteer work which is very admirable but doesnt help those who make a living from doing this work because it tends to keep the wages low. Grip over.

Steve.

With what are used markings W/T on the fuselage ?

The number with the top of the square is a number of sub-contractors it seems to me.

Thanx !

Hi Fred41, got a feeling they are some thing to do with wireless & telegraphy or transmitter.

Steve.

It was indeed JG891 although the accompanying air to air was unfortunately of the “late” PL983.
It really would not have been hard to get a nice air to air of the right aircraft 🙁

Hi Roobarb, looks like i got serial number mixed up. Yes, wouldn’t have been difficult to get photo of right aircraft. I guess the fuse for PL 983 is still at HFL unpainted.

Steve

As Eddie said but its all about the construction date of the aircraft. When it left the Westland factory it would have been painted Dark Earth/Dark Green (upper surfaces) and Sky (lower surfaces). Literaly a few weeks after arriving at her first service unit the Air Ministry issued orders for Dark Earth to be over-painted in a new colour, Ocean Grey and for the lower surfaces to be painted Medium Sea Grey. Both schemes are therfore correct for ‘213 depending on the period one wishes to portray. As Tom W told us, the owner has selected the original delivery scheme which was largely unchanged from the typical 1940 Battle of Britain era schemes of the previous year. I suspect this selection was made as the colours emphasise the unique position of ‘213 as an airworthy Mk 1 Spitfire while at the same time being correct for the airframe itself.

Hi all, Thanks for the info on AR213 paint & also on abbrieviation IIRC, now I understand.

Steve

Sadly not.

LR, I do not think they are ‘scared’ of anything. They are simply selecting an authentic scheme which this aircraft wore shortly after she was constructed. If a ‘fake’ scheme was being selected I could understand the concern but the chosen scheme is correct for the aircraft and consists of colours that are more closely associated with the Mk 1 as a type and its ‘finest hour’ (1940). The OG/DG scheme, is although correct, authentic and interesting, associated with a later period of WWII history and was a unit applied scheme rather than how she was originally finished on leaving the factory.

Quite correct Eddie.

Hi, Why is AR213 is to be painted in colours applicable to it’s marks “Finest Hour” (1940) when she was built in july 1941 ?
I did mention paint to Tom when I was at booker 2 weeks ago but have forgotten what he said !

Steve

Great stuff, Brian. I wonder why the Spit Vc has lost its tropical filter? :confused:

Hi all, I wondered about tropical filter, maybe to much cold air going in & engine not performing properly.

Steve

I don’t believe that Breitling have any connection now with OFMC. Nigel Lamb is still sponsored by them for his Red Bull flying and they sponsor the French based L39 team, plus of course the Connie so they still make an important contribution to aviation.

I believe that OFMC was never really structured as an aircraft owner itself but more as an operator on other peoples behalf. This is different to,say, the Fighter Collection, which is Stephen Gray’s personal collection. You can see this on the G-INFO website as MH434 has a different registered owner to Frankie. All the TFC aircraft are registered to the same company however. How many of the aircraft that OFMC have had over the years that the Hanna’s actually had a finacial interest is obviously not something that would be in the “public domain”.

This sort of operation is quite common in aviation. The company I work for operates a large fleet of aircraft but only a small number that we actually own – and even then no one really “owns” high value aircraft, they are all really held by banks and leasing companies! As a company we charge management fees to look after aircraft and hence make revenue, I would imagine that OFMC operates in a similar manner.

So I would presume the future of OFMC lies with the individuals who actually own the aircraft. As long as they wish to continue to have OFMC look after their aircraft then they should be able to carry on. I don’t imagine the overheads of the company would be that high as all the expensive items like maintenace and insurance would be passed on to the aircraft owners.

Hope the above is of interest, apologises if little long winded!

Hi all , i stand corrected on the breitling sponsorship, didnt realise that it had ended.

Steve